Future builders in the making: Crowle school children explore Blackthorn by Spitfire Homes

Pupils from Crowle CE Primary School got a behind-the-scenes look at how their own village is growing, with a tour of Blackthorn by Spitfire Homes.

Blackthorn is an exclusive collection of 30 homes created by award-winning homebuilder Spitfire Homes, located less than half a mile from Crowle CE Primary, making it the ideal setting to allow local pupils aged between 8 and 10 to be a part of their village’s future and see how a brand-new community is brought to life.

Blackthorn forms part of our Bespoke Collection and the pupils explored how it is taking shape, beginning their visit with an engaging introduction from members of the Construction Department before visiting key areas of the site.

The session offered a deep, wide-ranging insight into the homebuilding process, from early groundworks through to the finishing stages, helping pupils to understand the skills, roles and collaboration required on site. Guided by the Production Manager and Site Manager, the pupils learned about site safety, sustainability, design, craftsmanship and more, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions throughout.

As part of the experience, the children spent time in the recently opened Estate Office, which features a large-scale watercolour commissioned by Spitfire Homes from local artist John Horton, who has lived in Crowle for more than 50 years.

The kids took part in a creative drawing competition to determine which traditional straw animal feature will be placed on the thatched roof of one of the homes, offering pupils the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in the village they are growing up in, and add a distinctive, locally inspired finishing touch to the collection.

Martha Abbott, Headteacher at Crowle CE Primary School, said:

“The event was really well organised, we were all made to feel very welcome and the kids loved it.

It really inspired some of our pupils, and they loved the opportunity to be part of the competition to design the thatched roof decoration. Thank you so much for putting in such effort for our pupils, it was greatly appreciated.”

Dave Smith, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said:

“Blackthorn is more than a collection of new homes – it’s also a learning tool for the community that has allowed us to engage with Crowle CE Primary School.

The children growing up in this village can feel part of its growth and evolution by participating in site visits that open their eyes to the careers available in homebuilding, while promoting diversity and inclusion for the industry.

“Experiencing their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn was a real highlight for the whole team.

“This sort of educational engagement is a reflection of our wider commitment to supporting future talent; we’re proud that at least 5% of our workforce is made up of apprentices, trainees and graduates.”

Blackthorn will welcome visitors and prospective buyers to an exclusive launch of its brand-new show home on Saturday 30th May 2026.