School children to meet musicians, composers and presenters as part of BBC design challenge

To continue the legacy of Maida Vale music studios for a new generation, the BBC has confirmed it will continue its learning and education programmes with a creative design challenge for East London secondary schools.  

The programme, titled the Class of Your Own and BBC Creative Design Challenge, will involve pupils aged 11-14 designing their own fictional performance space and recording studio for the BBC and will see them having access to pop musicians, classical composers, presenters and sound engineers who will use the building of the future. 

The challenge is a collaboration with Class of Your Own and the London Legacy Development Corporation. The scheme builds on the success of the East Summer School 2020 series of interactive online summer workshops which focussed on careers in creative, tech and design industries for local young people living in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. 

The new learning programming that is set to inspire budding STEM students, will use online resources and events and, to make the experience as authentic as possible, pupils will be supported with input from real architects, engineers and construction professionals and final year music technology and built environment students from the University of East London.  

They will also have sessions with the sorts of users the new BBC music studios at Stratford Waterfront will have, interacting with pop musicians, classical composers, presenters and sound engineers who currently use Maida Vale. The challenge will begin in December 2020 and run through to June 2021. 

Jon Taylor, BBC programme director for East Bank, said: “We want to break down some of the barriers within the construction industry, immerse young people in the design and engineering process and in doing so enthuse them in building design, construction, music and the opportunities of the BBC’s move to Stratford East Bank. Perhaps we will even find the next generation of East London talent who could be working in our new buildings.” 

Paul Brickell, executive director of regeneration and community services at LLDC, said: “This is a great project to bring out the creative and technical talents of local young people. I hope it gives them a glimpse of the amazing opportunities being created at the East Bank culture and education district and inspires them to study at the world-class universities on the Park and perhaps get a job with one of the East Bank partners.” 

Alison Watson MBE, chief executive, Class Of Your Own, said: “For over a decade, Class Of Your Own has helped young people, their teachers and their parents, to discover a very different construction industry through our exciting Design Engineer Construct! projects. I’m thrilled that the BBC and LLDC is supporting this Creative Design Challenge, enabling so many schools to learn how powerful music can be in inspiring a whole range of STEM careers.”