Wiltshire College students have been working with primary school children from across Chippenham to create a computer game based around using the internet safely.

Harriet Sumner and Louise Drake, first year students studying for their Foundation Degree in Creative Digital Media at the Chippenham campus, led the project which was commissioned by the Chippenham Children’s Parliament.

Miss Drake, 20, from Holt, said the game, which is expected to be completed by the summer, would be put on school websites.

She said: “We worked with children to develop ideas for a game that will go on their website.
“They came up with some great scenarios and some brilliant characters.”

Miss Sumner, 23, from Hilperton, said: “The internet is now an important factor in the lives of young people so it is essential that they learn to use it safely.”

With support from Richard White, of Creative Wiltshire, a curriculum and business enterprise hybrid in partnership with Wiltshire College, Harriet and Louise led two development workshops involving pupils from the local Partnership of Schools, which is comprised of three secondary schools, one special school and 17 primary schools.

During the workshops, they talked with the children about using the internet, helped develop scenarios for a game and created artwork for animation.

Over the next few weeks Miss Drake, Miss Sumner and the Creative Wiltshire Team will be working closely with Evil Twin Artworks to turn the ideas and artwork they have gathered into a game.

Judy Edwards, who is Chippenham Partnership of Schools manager, said: “Collaborating with Wiltshire College like this means that local school children have access not only to college facilities but also the expertise of the students and staff.

“We were pleasantly surprised as to how aware they were of some of the dangers and how to avoid them.”