Young Designers Academy | School Workshops I Surrey

SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

Inspiring Design and Model-Making Workshops for Schools

At Young Designers Academy, we offer hands-on, design-led workshops for students aged 9–11 and 12–14, delivered by professional designers and artists. Our interactive sessions focus on model-making, practical design projects, and creative exploration, giving students the opportunity to experiment with materials and bring their ideas to life.

As a design-focused learning studio, we place a strong emphasis on developing design thinking skills, teaching students how to approach challenges creatively, prototype solutions, and reflect on their work. These essential skills nurture creativity, critical thinking, and confidence, supporting young learners to succeed both in the classroom and in today’s innovation-driven world.

We currently run workshops across Surrey, West Sussex, and Hampshire, and we are happy to discuss opportunities for schools in other areas.

For more information or to receive our full workshop brochure, please email us at hello@creative-academies.co.uk.

What Our Workshops Cover

Our design and craft workshops are tailored for Key Stage 2 (ages 9–11) and Key Stage 3 (ages 12–14). Each session is structured to encourage creative thinking, experimentation, and hands-on making. Depending on your needs, workshops can include:

Model-making projects exploring design, form, structure, and function.
Craft techniques relevant to design, including construction, mixed-media and prototyping. Exploring the design process — from initial ideas and sketches to refining models.
Links to curriculum themes such as art, design & technology, sustainability, storytelling, and creative problem-solving.
Take-home outcomes students can proudly share.

Workshops can be adapted to fit curriculum needs, school priorities, or special events such as STEAM weeks, Arts Week, and Enrichment Days.

Workshop Structure

We offer both full-day and half-day workshops. Each workshop includes:

A creative warm-up to spark ideas
Demonstrations of key design and model-making techniques
Guided, hands-on making time
Space for iteration, refinement, and completion
An optional sharing or end-of-day mini exhibition

Workshops can be structured for one class or adapted for rotating groups.

Our Design-Led Approach

We are a design-orientated studio with a strong focus on developing design thinking in young people. Our workshops encourage students to:

Explore ideas through sketching, prototyping, and iteration
Solve problems creatively and practically
Make design decisions considering function, aesthetics, and technique
Reflect on what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve

Design thinking is a crucial skill for students, boosting creativity, resilience, teamwork, and confidence. It helps them understand how ideas become tangible outcomes and supports learning across the curriculum.

Pricing

We offer flexible pricing for our workshops:

Full-day workshops: £550–£1,000 (additional charges apply for journeys over 20 miles)
Half-day workshops: £350–£550 (additional charges apply for journeys over 20 miles)

The final cost is influenced by:

Materials required
Number of students
Complexity of the project
Travel considerations

We supply all materials, except for glue and scissors, which schools are asked to provide. For a tailored quote and to discuss your specific requirements, please get in touch — we ensure each workshop meets your needs.

Why Choose Our Workshops?

Schools choose our workshops because they:

Build creative confidence and independent thinking
Support curriculum learning in Art & Design and Design & Technology
Encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving
Provide high-quality, meaningful creative experiences delivered by expert practitioners
Give students the satisfaction of producing well-crafted, thoughtful outcomes

We create an inspiring, supportive environment where every student can succeed — from highly creative pupils to those exploring design for the first time.