Year 7s build a Zoo at Westonbirt

Recently Westonbirt’s entire Year 7 cohort took part in a fantastic two-day teambuilding and skills development activity, ‘We Built a Zoo.’ 

Day 1 saw them tasked to build the Zoo, breaking into different groups, including estates, marketing, finance, operations and HR for the design and development. Each group was allocated a Westonbirt support staff member from each of those areas who brought their knowledge and experience to educate students about aspects they should think about and consider. The Cotswold Wildlife Park even loaned their Reptile Ranger for the morning to field animal welfare questions as the zoo began to evolve, including such species as the red panda, spider monkey and Humboldt penguin. Throughout the day students worked on their plans and visions for the zoo culminating in an afternoon presentation to the Westonbirt community, which included parents.  

Day 2 saw the Year 7 group visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park for the day. This trip was to both celebrate their hard work from the previous day and to see a zoo in practice, including attending a conservation talk. The whole project was not only a great learning opportunity for the pupils, but also a chance to foster creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and presentation skills. They even managed to fundraise nearly £70 from parents, which will go towards the sponsorship of an animal in the park.  

Natasha Dangerfield, Head of Westonbirt School said: 

“With this initiative, we have seen group of 11 year-olds think with maturity, creativity and collaboration as they established what it would take to run a zoo with six endangered species. They have been incredible in stocking, staffing, financing, marketing and operating their fictional wildlife park in readiness for their visit to the Wildlife Park, with nearly all of them presenting.  

 My thanks go to the Wildlife Park and all of the staff who contributed to this wonderful project.”