Dragons' Den

Dragons' Den came to Shene School last week.  As part of the new Key Stage 3 Curriculum, students in Year 7 participated in a Dragons' Den competition to design an improved Year 7 playground area. Pupils worked in teams in ICT lessons to put forward proposals to a panel of distinguished judges, including a journalist and a local business woman.  The winners of the project will be presented with  prizes, donated by one of the Dragons. I copy below some of the judges' comments. Many thanks to the judges for giving up their time and to Mr Stone, Head of ICT, for organising the event.

7W1 teams
1. BA Playgrounds Direct – B and A
Welcoming, well structured, ideas for girls and boys, activities, sitting and grass, enthusiastic, great smiles, IT capable.
2. MNMP
Clear intro and structure, clever IT drop downs and points, good working together and shared roles. P and M showed real grasp and spoke up well. Ideas more for girls (skipping ropes) but basket balls for boys. Bike sheds different.
3. JJA Designs
Good intro, detailed plan, clear criteria, enthusiasm (fun/amazing), mix of active (healthy/fit) and sitting. Ideas for boys and girls. Thoughtful on numbers and responsibilities. Engaged with us. Multi-media (handout!). great voices.

 
4. CNC Projects
Clear criteria, thought-through space for trees, plants, benches and swings – with covered pergola. Very sensible and perhaps not much fun. Not much for boys. Good IT.

5. WWBFN Designs
Clear criteria and structure. Bright and colourful pictures and good use of IT. Overall use of total ground in champ square, football, basketball, soft ground (rubber) and green areas with seats. 5 working well together with enthusiasm.
6. N’s Playgrounds
Clever IT, no colour, overly structured in methodical patterns

7T2 Teams

Group 1 – S, R, K, B
*R a fabulous presenter.
Welcoming, great intros – and wonderful shaking hands on way out! Told excellent story of playground usage, mixed activities and garden seats in a garden where they can catch up on homework. Engaged with us and able to draw ideas. Not much as a project brought together. Able to estimate costs and where to buy equipment

Group 2 – C, J, M, N
*J a fabulous presenter.
Good story. Great pictures. Did measure the site. Ideas for girls and boys including a swingchair, plants, seats, netball – an area to rephrase the mind. Engaged with us with enthusiasm and able to draw out ideas and estimate costs. Not much as a project brought together.


Group 3 – K, M, S

Clear intro. Thought through numbers and equipment more benches, more games (activities as well as basketball) – more fun. Good pictures and birds’eyeview. Reasonable IT.