Electrifying artwork created by students from Highlands School, Enfield, north London, has taken a top award in a national competition.

Local developer Lovell, which is working with Enfield Council to deliver a major regeneration development in Ponders End High Street, invited Year 10 art students to enter the competition by producing designs for the project’s site hoardings. Known as the Electric Quarter, the new development will create 167 new open market sale and affordable homes as well as a replacement library, along with new shops and commercial units.

The young artists drew on the area’s associations with electric light bulb inventor Joseph Swan – who lived on Ponders End High Street – to come up with their creative light-bulb themed designs. The students have now been named one of the national winners in the Ivor Goodsite Hoarding competition organised by the construction industry’s Considerate Constructors Scheme.

Bruce Goddard, Highlands School Headteacher, says: “I am so proud of our talented students and so pleased that so many more people can now see the amazing artwork that is produced in school day in, day out. What a fantastic way to decorate a building site!”

Lovell regional director Michael O’Farrell adds: “Everyone loved the students’ designs and they look amazing on the hoardings. Working with the local community is a key part of this important project which is creating much-needed new homes for Ponders End as well as a range of retail, commercial and community facilities. It’s been great to involve local students in a scheme which is bringing such important benefits to their neighbourhood.” The students were presented with awards by the Considerate Constructors Scheme and also received prizes from Lovell including art books.

“This fantastic scheme will help provide work and training for local people and will make Ponders End an even more attractive local shopping area,” comments Enfield Council’s cabinet member for Economic Regeneration and Business, Cllr Alan Sitkin. “I am really pleased to hear how the entry from local students won a national competition, they worked hard and should be very proud of the vibrant and creative pieces they produced. It will really brighten up the site.”