Learning Through Co-design: The Story of “Shape My School”

The Shape My School programme addresses a critical gap by providing a structured model that enables pupils aged 7–9 to co-design interventions in their school environments alongside industry professionals, an opportunity rarely accessible to children. Developed in 2023, the programme aligns with the Curriculum for Wales and harnesses the social value commitments of Cardiff Council’s industry partners. It is delivered through collaboration between the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff Council’s Cardiff Commitment team, local schoolteachers and pupils, and industry partners. Conceived as a scalable and adaptable model, it follows three stages—preparation, delivery, and implementation—and positions school premises as pedagogical tools and “living labs” for experiential learning. This chapter explains the programme’s evolution across its first two delivery cycles, drawing on delivery experience, focus groups, partner reflections, and documentary materials. In Cycle 1, the programme was piloted across nine Cardiff primary schools, with partner feedback informing refinements to workshop content and delivery. In Cycle 2, it expanded to 12 schools and shifted from WSA-led delivery to an industry- and teacher-led model supported by WSA resource kits. Ongoing evaluation is informing further refinement of Cycle 3. Two key findings emerge. First, cross-sector collaboration grounded in social value can facilitate meaningful pupil participation in the co-design of school environments. Second, engaging pupils in co-design generates authentic, curriculum-linked learning about the built-environment education. Overall, Shape My School demonstrates the potential of contextual, co-designed interventions in schools and calls for closer collaboration among educators, policymakers, and practitioners to harness school spaces as dynamic settings for architectural learning and innovation.