How to...

There are lots of ways which you can change a space, a classroom or even your whole school. A start up guide will be available soon to get you started.

If you are so excited you can’t wait then here are 10 top tips to get you started:

1. Find a space that needs a makeover – anything from a corridor, classroom, outdoor space, dining room 
2. Ask permission to change it ‐ this could be the headteacher or the local authority if it’s a bigger space or if you need planning permission 
3. Involve children and young people, teachers and parents in your project. If you are young – lucky you - involve some adults in your project as there will be some health and safety issues with any project you are planning 
4. Come up with some ideas about designs – start with a mood board with materials, colours, ideas for how you would change the space. 
5. Sketch out some more developed designs include dimensions, layout and scale. We recommend an application like Google Sketchup but a simple pencil and paper will do.
6. Think big but start small – choose an area to test your ideas. Get some professional advice on any health and safety issues that need to be taken into consideration. 
7. Buy materials – use sustainable materials wherever possible - not just green paint but materials that will last and stand up to lots of use.
8. Timetable your mini makeover project in this could be a ‘60 minute makeover’, a week or a project that lasts a whole term. Make sure you think about any disruption this may cause to the normal operation of the room or space. 
9. Involve lots of people to help you deliver the makeover teachers, parents, school staff, governors, the local authority and people involved in your school or other local building projects. Make sure if you do involve adults not working with the school that they are CRB checked – please stay safe.
10. Celebrate your makeover – let us know about it via our website (insert link to submit a makover section). Also let the local press know – we have a press release template that you can use or do your own. And in a couple of months time let us know how its made a difference