AN Ilkley primary school has installed a new stage in its playground where pupils will be able to sing and act out their own dramas during break and lunchtimes.

The structure has been designed by children at Ashlands Primary School with the help and advice of designer Lewis Morgan, who works in timber.

The design process began when the school held a design technology week in October 2014 where every child worked on a different design and build project. At the end of the week every child was able to vote for the stage structure that they liked best. Many parents also took the time to visit the Leeds Road school to see the work the children had done.

Lewis then pooled the ideas together to make the stage structure which has now been installed in the playground.

He will be visiting school again to work on some designs for aluminium castings on what makes Ilkley a special area, which will then be integrated into the structure.

Headteacher Andrew Soutar said: “Not every child wants to run and play games during breaktimes and it is essential that we cater for our more creative children and give them an opportunity to play and express themselves.

“The children and staff have benefited from working with a professional designer to understand how this work is done and the way that a brief develops during the designing process.

“The children are now enjoying this addition to our playground and we will be using it during our lessons as an ideal area to showcase any drama work done in class. The children have been very positive in their use of the structure. Comments from them have included ‘it’s really good, it’s great fun, I like the stage because the doors can be open and closed’.

“The work by Lewis Morgan has been part funded by the excellent fundraising of the Friends of Ashlands, so we would like to thank them for making this possible for the children.”

Lewis has worked on many projects within schools, delivering schemes that are educational whilst offering environmental change and the creation of new learning spaces. He said: “Children always come up with ideas I never would have thought of, enriching the whole design process, and making the final structure genuinely unique. It also creates a sense of understanding and ownership of the school space, rather than structures being ‘airlifted’ in.”