Employees create outdoor classroom

Green learning space becomes reality with outside help.

Employees from Mondelēz International in Bournville have spent a day creating an outdoor learning space at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School.

More than 40 employees from the company’s HR team gave up their time during the Easter half-term to create two outdoor classrooms at the Bournville-based school with benches and tables, and construct and weather-proof all of the outdoor furniture.

During their visit, the team also painted an external wall to be later decorated with educational graffiti for the art department, which will enable the pupils to bring their ideas to life.

The work forms part of the global snack provider’s commitment to the school as part of its three year Business Class partnership and also its students, whose school council put forward their ideas based on what they would like to see transformed at the school in order to enhance their learning.

Les Shields, strategic business manager at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, said: “We are extremely grateful to Mondelēz employees who took the time out to support the school. The students are really excited to see the changes, which will definitely have a positive impact on their learning.

“We are delighted to be working with Donna and the team throughout the year to progress the outdoor areas and some internal areas, such as the school motto as a border on the stairwells so that all our students have a better learning environment and more space to work, read and relax.”

Donna Jordan, organisation management and reporting specialist at Mondelēz International, added: “The team really enjoyed transforming parts of the school and to see the difference one day has made is just brilliant. It’s very important for our employees to get involved with our local community, and we look forward to working with the school over the year to further enhance their facilities.”