Archer Academy students present ideas for Market Place Playground

Archer’s Year 7 students spent last term learning all about community spaces and landscape design as part of their Thematic Learning lessons. Their end project was creating a new design for Market Place Playground. On Wednesday 25 January the Friends group visited Archer Academy to view their amazing work. 

11 students presented their designs to the Friends of Market Place Playground and we were delighted by their creativity, research, understanding of budget and space limitations, consideration of other playground users like toddlers or older people and their concern for the environment.

Places to sit

We were surprised that seating came up again and again. Students wanted places to read, play games and socialise. Ideas included treehouses, tables with built-in chessboards, painted bespoke benches, gazebos and orb chairs so the park could be enjoyed in the rain.

Green and eco-friendly

Every student had thought about the environmental aspects – bug hotels, natural materials, trees, wildlife and planting. And everyone had a bin idea – recycling bins, character bins, talking bins and bins shaped like ice lollies! Students dislike the bleak tarmac look of Market Place and want more sand, natural surfaces and grass.

We were delighted by their enthusiasm for re-using and repurposing existing equipment to save resources and money too, turning swings into goals, moving the spinny seat into a better position and bringing back the iconic yellow tea cup.

Tyres came up a lot. Everyone loves to swing on a tyre but they are also a great example of re-using and recycling objects for play – not just as swings but also as climbing features and for planting. 

The Kit 

Swings are always popular: single swings, basket swings, ziplines, tyres hanging from trees. You can never have too many swings. But the students loved monkey bars, roundabouts, climbing nets and big slides. Any kit that can be enjoyed with friends is always a hit as is anything that takes you up high. 

Our group were also a sporty bunch who – in an ideal world – would like a football pitch, basketball court, skatepark and climbing wall – although sadly there is not enough space for everything. 

Thanks so much to everyone at Archer Academy who made this happen. Year 7 is the perfect year for this project as students can remember how they played as young children but also have an understanding of how they can enjoy Market Place as they become teenagers.  The best playground consultants ever!

3 big ideas from each student