What a joy it was to attend ‘Inspire’, a celebration of the RIBA National Schools Programme last Friday. The programme provides primary and secondary school children with experience, knowledge and understanding of the built environment, and the skills and confidence to become involved in debates surrounding it.

I undertook a workshop with a class of year 4 children from Cayley Primary School in Tower Hamlets, where I talked about the life of an architect before leading a session on how to design a home using sketches and 3D modelling software.

As architects, we have a duty to inspire and teach the next generation and the RIBA National Schools Programme does just that. It was great to see the impact the programme has had on the children and I feel privileged to be part of a team of ambassadors making it happen. Special thanks to Fiona McDonald and her team for their excellent work coordinating the programme.