Bishop Fox's Community School learns lesson in regeneration with Project Taunton

The regeneration plans for Taunton brought classroom studies to life for a group of geography students from Bishop Fox's Community School who recently visited the sites. Using Taunton as a real-life case study for their GCSEs, the Year 11 students were taken on an educational tour by the team at Project Taunton who are managing the ambitious redevelopment of the town.

Photograph of Bishop Fox's geography studentsFollowing a meeting with the Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, Cllr John Williams and Chief Executive Penny James, who explained the Council's responsibility to the community, Project Taunton provided the students with a valuable first hand insight into the issues and challenges faced in a large scale development.

Speaking about the day, Bishop Fox's geography teacher Clive Miller said: "We have looked in depth at the proposals for Taunton and this has brought to life classroom-based lessons on regeneration and related issues such as land use, transport and sustainability. To speak to the team at Project Taunton and be taken to the actual sites in the town has been a tremendously powerful learning experience which the students will share with their peers when they return to school."

Robbie Lowes, project coordinator at Project Taunton, who hosted the visit, said: "We are delighted to share our experiences with the students who have taken a real interest in what is taking place in the town and the plans for the Cultural Quarter, which were launched earlier this month, were of particular interest. Since the original Vision for Taunton Commission document was published in 2002 a huge amount of work has been undertaken to get us to the position where changes are now starting to take place. It's an exciting time for schools to get involved and we look forward to working with other primary and secondary schools in a similar way in the near future."

Schools wishing to arrange Project Taunton study trips or to find out further information, can contact Robbie Lowes at Project Taunton on 01823 250 837 or robbie.lowes@projecttaunton.co.uk.