Gifted pupils join Crossrail design project

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Pupils from Brentside, Elthorne Park and Twyford work together

Crossrail Celebrates Innovative Gifted and Talented Course Crossrail has scored another education first in offering a group of secondary school students from four London Boroughs a 10 week course in architecture and design as part of its Young Crossrail activity programme.

The course, the first of its kind to be offered by the transport and education industries, is holding a presentation ceremony on December 1 at Canary Wharf.

Norman Haste, Cross London Rail Link's (CLRL) chief executive, will be handing out certificates to all the students involved.

Norman Haste said: 'This is a curriculum-based activity involving gifted and talented students from schools along the preferred Crossrail route. Students have been given a design challenge to work on and find an answer to.'

The course is being run in association with the Specialist Schools Trust, Canary Wharf Group and the Gifted and Talented Education Arm of the London Challenge, delivering opportunities to raise the aspirations and attainment of gifted and talented pupils from 4-19. Students worked with designers, architects and engineers throughout the 10 weeks.

The Canary Wharf Group commented: 'We have been delighted to be able to host this project here at Canary Wharf. 'Crossrail is all about the future growth and development of London, and from what we have seen so far we are sure many of these students will be playing a significant role as the next generation of talented Londoners.'

Ian Warwick, London Gifted & Talented's Development Director, commented: 'This course is based firmly in a real world situation with challenge and innovation at the core. It is a chance to highlight how a gifted student can be involved with a vocational course. There is also an online element involved in the project to ensure wider access and accessibility.'

Barry McGregor, subject leader for engineering colleges, at the Specialist Schools Trust, said: 'This is an excellent opportunity for students to be involved in a real engineering project. 'The project aims to demonstrate that 'engineering' is innovative, exciting and rewarding and that it impacts on all aspects of our lives. The work produced is an exciting way in which to promote engineering in its many forms.'

The students taking part are from Rokeby and St Bonaventures RC schools in the borough of Newham, Brentside High, Elthorne Park High and Twyford schools in Ealing, Oaklands and Stepney Green schools in Tower Hamlets and Cardinal Vaughn Memorial and Westminster City schools in Kensington and Chelsea. Crossrail's innovative 'Young Crossrail' education programme has also included a schools competition to design a crossrail carriage, another first for schools and businesses working together, where the students work was displayed in the London's Transport museum. Schools along the route receive The Link, a newsletter that reports on the students' activities.

More information on Young Crossrail can be found at www.crossrail.co.uk/80256B090053AF4C/pages/youngcrossrail.html

December 1, 2004