School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

Twenty four pupils from six local schools competed in three different construction skills challenges organised by staff and students at Derby College.

Pupils from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne; John Flamsteed Community School, Denby; The Ecclesbourne School in Duffield, Merrill Academy in Alvaston; Murray Park Community School in Mickleover and Allestree Woodlands  competed in Brickwork, Painting and Decorating and Plastering challenges.

John Flamsteed Community School pupils Matthew Woodhouse, Philip Richardson and William Armes swept the board in the Painting and Decorating competition.

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School pupil Matthew Derbyshire won the Brickwork competition with Mitchell Williams and George Cresswell from John Flamsteed Community School coming second and third.

Murray Park Community School pupil Thomas Sadler won the Plastering Competition with Charlie Webster from The Ecclesbourne School second and Allestree Woodlands’ Curtis Taylor taking third place.

The pupils were supported during the day by Derby College Construction staff and some of the full time students including those who had been involved in the competitions as school pupils in previous years.

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.

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.”

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