School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges
Twenty six pupils from six local schools competed in four different construction skills challenges organised by staff and students at Derby College.
Pupils from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne; John Flamsteed Community School, Denby; Ecclesbourne School in Duffield, Bennerley Fields Specialist Speech and Language College, Ilkeston; as well as Murray Park Community and Allestree Woodlands schools in Derby competed in Brickwork, Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and Joinery and Plastering challenges.
They were supported during the day by eight Derby College students, some of who had been involved in the competitions as school pupils in previous years. The judging panels included Derby College staff and representatives from local businesses including, Richard Jennings of Rye Developments in Derby who also donated prizes for the carpentry and joinery competition.
The competition was organised by Derby College’s pre-16 team who coordinate vocational programmes for school pupils at the College as part of an extended curriculum offer. Competitors were supported and cheered on by several by parents/ carers and also representatives of our partner schools, including Martin Owen, Head Teacher at Murray Park Community School and Helen Redhead, Deputy Head Teacher at Flamsteed Community School.
Julie Dorrington heads up the team. She said: “The competition is designed to showcase the school pupils’ skills and to highlight the apprenticeships and full time study programme opportunities that are open to them after leaving school. “The standard of work was extremely high and the judges were very impressed with the focus and commitment that the young people showed to the challenges set.”
The winners were: Painting and Decorating: George Carter from Murray Park; Plastering: Josh Taylor from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School ; Brickwork: Matthew Woodhouse from John Flamsteed Carpentry and Joinery: Charlie Webster from Ecclesbourne.
Derby College Brickwork student and mentor Storm Dickinson (18) said: “Our role was to help the pupils and make sure they were doing the tasks in the right way. I am very proud with how they worked and very impressed with their skills.”