Phoenix Collegiate Development Challenge
School students transformed into property professionals
- March 2011
School students at the Phoenix Collegiate in Sandwell, West
Midlands, turned architect, surveyor, planner and engineer for a
special Community Development Challenge.
The competition, specially devised for the school by Elizabeth
Flowith (Jon Flowith & Partners) from the Association of Women
in Property, challenged the 15/16 year olds to 'think property', to
help them gain a better understanding of what careers in property
and construction could offer.
For four months, 30 Year 10 Business Studies students worked on
the project which required them to put themselves in the position
of a team of property professionals, in order to advise a
fictitious 'charity board' on how best to develop five acres of
prime development land.
The 10 teams each presented their recommendations to the charity
board, when the proposals were scrutinised and a final scheme
accepted. The charity board was represented by a team of
judges, each drawn from a real-life professional property-related
or business background including Kathy Toon, Real Estate Lawyer at
Martineau, Jennifer Price of developer MCD and Alun Thorne, Editor
of the Birmingham Post.
This competition provided the students with a unique insight
into a career that is considered by many to be more male orientated
and broadened their horizons in terms of the opportunities on offer
to them once they leave school.