My Ideal Learning Space: pupils in Swansea design the classrooms they need
Pupils from Special Teaching Facilities in four Swansea secondary schools used Minecraft to design their ideal learning spaces, then shared their designs on the big screens of the Immersion Room at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. The project was funded by the City and County of Swansea Vulnerable Learners Team.
About the project
My Ideal Learning Space is a Bantani Cymru project for pupils aged 11 to 16 with additional learning needs who attend Special Teaching Facilities (STFs) in Swansea comprehensive schools. It starts from a simple question: what helps you learn well?
Pupils were asked to think about what makes a space feel safe and engaging, what gets in the way of learning and how different learners need different kinds of support. They then planned, built and adapted their answers in Minecraft Education, working first on their own designs and then together as a class to combine the strongest ideas into a single shared space.
The project puts pupil voice at the centre. Rather than adults deciding what a good classroom looks like, the pupils who use these spaces every day did the designing and explained their thinking to their peers, their teachers and staff from other schools.
The approach supports the Curriculum for Wales aim of developing enterprising, creative contributors, and gives pupils practical experience of creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and communication alongside digital skills.
Who took part
The first round of the project ran during the 2025 to 2026 school year with STF units from four schools: Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, Birchgrove Comprehensive School, Bishopston Comprehensive School and Penyrheol Comprehensive School. Pupils from Years 7 to 10 were involved.
Bantani Cymru provided training and ongoing support for teachers, along with the project materials, and worked with each school as pupils developed their designs.
The showcase at UWTSD
On 23 April 2026 pupils and staff from all four schools came together at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David SA1 campus to share their work.
Each school presented its Minecraft design in the Immersion Room, where the learning spaces appeared at full scale on large screens. Pupils walked their audience through their builds and explained the choices they had made. They also toured the campus, including the motorsport department, and tried VR headsets, games and drone activities with support from university staff and students.
Schools were split into two smaller groups so the day was not overwhelming, and a quiet space was available for pupils who needed time to regulate. Transport and lunch were provided.
What teachers told us
Every teacher who completed the evaluation rated the event day, the Immersion Room, the campus tour, the VR activity and the organisation of the day at 5 out of 5. All agreed that the project supported creativity and collaboration, that building in Minecraft helped pupils develop and share their ideas and that the approach allowed some pupils to show strengths that are not always seen in class.
“The immersive room to showcase their work was exceptional, bringing life to their creativity and allowing them to explore and explain it to others”
“Pupils enjoyed learning from each other how to use Minecraft effectively. They independently developed their own designs first, then peer-assessed one another’s work, identifying strengths in each design. They collaborated to combine the most successful elements, refining their builds together”
“It was a fully pupil led project and they were confident to create, adapt and deliver the final creation to others”
“They feel like they have been heard, they are enthused by the technology and they feel recognised for having a skill they have”
One teacher described a pupil with communication needs who felt less anxious using the VR technology and made a real effort to speak, calling it “a massive step”. Another described how pupils who began the project unsure of themselves, and worried that their designs would not match other schools, grew in confidence and independence as the work progressed and began to focus on their own progress rather than comparing themselves with others.
What pupils told us
Pupils rated the Immersion Room and the campus tour at 5 out of 5. Asked what they had enjoyed most, they talked about designing their own spaces, seeing their work on the big screens, looking at the other schools’ designs, the motorsport tour, the games and the VR.
“It was a fun day, with lots of activities and it was lovely to see the other schools designs and see the university campus”
“How to work better as a team and be more confident in our work”
“Finding out how other people find it easier to learn”
“It was brilliant because it was well run and everyone was friendly”
What we learned
The feedback points to a model that works: design work in school using Minecraft, followed by an in-person event where pupils present their ideas in a setting that takes them seriously. Teachers and pupils both asked for more chances to meet other schools during the project, so that pupils can share work in progress, get feedback and improve their designs before the final showcase. Practical suggestions for the event day included a visual timetable to support routine and reduce anxiety, and a short introduction to any unfamiliar controls before pupils use them. We are building these into the next round.
What happens next
The project continues from September 2026, reaching further comprehensive schools in Swansea. Pupils who took part in the first round will be invited to act as mentors, passing on their experience to younger pupils in feeder primary schools.
A word from Bantani Cymru
“This showcase was a powerful reminder of what happens when pupils are given the tools, time and space to express their ideas. Through Minecraft, immersive technology, VR, drones and the university campus experience, pupils were able to see their own creativity valued and celebrated. The day helped pupils feel heard, recognised and ambitious about what they can achieve.”
Hazel Israel, Director, Bantani Cymru
Thank you
My Ideal Learning Space was funded by the City and County of Swansea Vulnerable Learners Team. We are grateful to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David for hosting the showcase at the SA1 campus and to the university staff and students who supported pupils on the day, and to the teachers and teaching assistants in the four STF units who made the project happen in their classrooms.
Interested in taking part? Contact hazel@bantani.com.