THE VILLAGE PROJECT
THE VILLAGE PROJECT
The Village sees Year 8 students live in the school grounds for a week, creating their own shelters, community and guiding their own activities This year as The Village
A story maker came to
took over to woods at the
guide students on whatever
back of the field, there was
imaginative journey they
a new approach to shelter
wanted to take and our
building. The previous
artist in residence, Vic,
shelters came in kit form
created willow sculptures
and had been designed
aided by those who felt
with students and the DT
so inclined. There were
department a good few
drumming workshops, Ju
years ago. They were
Jitsu and the mobile forge
falling into disrepair and
alongside student-initiated
the pandemic had meant
activities like chess, poker
no time to fix them. But
and pom-pom making.
this turned out to be an opportunity for students to be involved again in their design. Students were given eight panels, large tarpaulins and some very clever eco-friendly cable-tie replacements and allowed to design their own shelters. This gave each group more agency over what they built and challenged them to think for themselves.
The idea behind The Village is to remove students from their screens and other devices, and to allow them to choose how they want to shape their week. They can learn new skills and create new friendships, or they can enjoy activities they already know and like without having timetables to stick to. They have to be resilient, making shelters and cooking their own meals,
As usual we were visited by
they have to co-operate,
Mell and Meg from Kinda
sharing their space with
Forest School who set up
others and they have to be
a campfire area where
present, no phones and no
students could choose to
going home at 4pm. In this
create or relax. Visits to this
way, The Village creates
quiet corner of The Village
a memorable window in
saw makers bringing axe
their King Alfred journey –
handles, nettle lip balm and
one that students in lower
leather pouches to life while
years look forward to, and
others found their spirit
those in later years always
animals or just took time to
remember on graduation
sit by the fire.
day as a formative experience.
96
The Alfredian Magazine 2022
