Secondary Schools Training Opportunities

This section of our training portfolio is aimed at Secondary school pupils or pupils following the Alternative Curriculum.

Cob and straw bail building workshops.

We are hoping to organise a number of cob and straw-bail building projects in and around Cardiff. Small groups of young people could become involved in different stages of the process. The design of a building to maximise use of natural solar gain, avoid overheating in the summer, and maximise social use (etc) will provide an interesting insight into sustainable design for a D&T student, and practical hands on skills will engage most learners who will engage in an ongoing learning process throughout the build.

Natural paint-making workshops.

Students will learn about the benefits of natural products with low embodied energy through making and using paints made of natural kitchen ingredients and natural pigments. Students will be able to recognise the difference between buying a can of paint from a shop with little or no understanding of its ingredients and manufacture, and making or buying paint with a clear understanding of the processes and ingredient required to make it. Parallels can be made to factory farmed food and air-miles.

Introduction to natural materials and natural building methods.

Cob, natural paints, natural insulations. A chance to view/handle and experiment with alternative building materials. An introduction to issues of sustainability when designing a house or a building, from choice of location and materials, to energy use and conservation.