EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE

The College and building contractor have been working together over the last few months to encourage opportunities for students to get out of the classroom and find out what it’s like to work on a building site.

Earlier this week one class was taken on their first ever site visit to the Old Courthouse, a Grade II listed building in Worcestershire, which is being restored and remodelled.

Students were inducted by the Health & Safety Manager followed by a tour of site and finally a workshop with Speller Metcalfe builders to learn the art of bricklaying. In the afternoon they were taken onto Alderman Knight School in Tewkesbury for the opportunity to see a completely different type of build in its latter stages.

Tim Hoddrell, Lecturer at the College said: ““It is important that our students get a rounded experience through their courses, and by visiting a range of building sites they are able to put their learning into practise.

“Speller Metcalfe has been an invaluable link to the College, not only taking students on site but organising workshops for Foundation Studies learners, and even taking on apprentices. It’s important that we retain these links with industry professionals so that our learners can make informed choices about careers and can use the opportunity to learn skills through professional tradesmen.”

Another group of students from the college has since been to visit the second Kingsway Primary School in Quedgeley, a 420 place school built to meet the increasing need of school places to mirror the new housing development, where Speller Metcalfe has been on site since August 2012.

Andy Metcalfe, Joint MD for the construction company said: “It’s hugely important to get these students onto onto a working site where they can then make a connection between what’s going on in the classroom with a live building environment.

“With the construction industry facing tough cuts, it’s essential that we keep the next generation coming through – otherwise we could end up facing a real skills shortage in the future.”