Year 1 T-level Construction students have been lucky enough to work with Adam Sheppard from the University of Gloucestershire over the last few weeks and gain an insight into the fascinating world of a Town Planner. Adam is a senior lecturer in urban planning and design, and has inspired our students greatly with his lessons about the profession
The first session gave the students an understanding of the background of the profession and the current challenges town planners face, including mitigation against climate change, flooding and the re-thinking of our town centres. Our students now realise that there is a great variety of career routes in planning, both in the state and private sector. According to a student survey, some of the class are now considering a degree in planning!
The second session saw the students working together in groups to design a new settlement in Ashchurch, next to Tewkesbury. This exercise increased their confidence in presenting and also opened their eyes to how planners have a really important role to play in the challenges faced by society; for example, many of the students considered homeless shelters and foodbanks an essential part of their new community.
As a follow-up, Adam and his colleagues have invited the class up to Cheltenham for a day, where they will be working with their undergraduate Architects and Planners on a scheme to re-vamp the North Place car park close to the University, and getting a guided tour of Gloucester architecture.
Construction lecturer Chris Lythgoe said “We are delighted to be a part of this on-going collaboration. This is a good example of how T-levels are a new way of learning and we are keen to expand this and work with lots more experts in their field to our mutual benefit”
For more information on this story please contact chloe.suter@cirencester.ac.uk
