The Imagine Programme

The Imagine Programme celebrates teachers and built environment professionals who incorporate architecture and the wider built environment into primary education. 

Linking real-world places, problems and design thinking to classroom subjects can support children to connect with the world around them and engage with their environment, developing their creativity, critical thinking, curiosity and confidence across the curriculum and their daily lives.

We think that, by gathering and sharing examples of inspiring practice, exploring creative teaching methods, and celebrating educators who are leading the way - we hope to inspire and support other teachers and collaborators to join in.

Creating small changes in education and building stronger partnerships between the built environment industry and schools can lead to long term impact, creating passionate and knowledgeable young people that care about the places they live, and develops their understanding of architecture and design. 

Imagine evolved from the 2023 Architecture into Education Awards, which celebrated innovative ways of incorporating architecture into the classroom and highlighted the collaborations and resources making a difference. Recognising that this passion needs to be embedded from a young age, Imagine has a focus on primary education.

Mission:

To engage children and young people with the built environment and support and equip teachers with innovative ways to incorporate architecture into primary education.

Key Objectives:

1) Incorporate architecture, urban design and the built environment into the primary curriculum

2) Explore and gather innovative teaching methods and approaches

3) Build a supportive community of teachers who are passionate about delivering creative lessons

4) Nurture cross-sector collaboration between educators and built environment professionals

Programme Structure:

• Teacher training: Practical workshops to help teachers incorporate architecture and the wider built environment into lessons. With examples, resources, and templates for adapting lessons and delivering engaging activities that bring subjects to life. Watch the recording.

• Design competition: The Christina Smith Design Competition highlights projects that make a contemporary intervention into a heritage setting. This can be a past project or something new, related to topics across the curriculum. There is a cash prize for the winner.

• Imagine Awards: The first ever awards celebrating teachers for incorporating architecture into their lessons. These awards shine a light on school-led projects - past and present - encouraging collaboration and inspiring others. There is a cash prize for the overall winner.

• Network & Resources: A supportive network of teachers who are passionate about creative, place-based learning. A community where resources and lesson plans can be shared, as well as ideas, and encouragement, no matter where youʼre based.

If you would like further information, please send an email to Grace Simmonds.

Imagine’s Inaugural Partner is the Christina Smith Foundation

"The Christina Smith Foundation are proud to be named the inaugural partner of the Thornton Education Trust’s ‘Imagine’ programme. Christina was a passionate supporter of architectural education. She would be delighted by the ambition of this initiative in enabling future young creatives to take their first steps in understanding how they can shape the world around them."

 Deborah Saunt, Trustee, The Christina Smith Foundation and Founding Director, DSDHA