School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

Pupils from local schools competed in Derby College Group’s annual Schools Skillbuild competition held at DCG’s Construction Academy at the Roundhouse Technical and Professional Skills college.

The event was organised by the College’s 14-16 Schools team who coordinate vocational programmes at the College for years 10 and 11 school pupils as part of an extended curriculum offer.

The pupils were supported by College curriculum staff and full-time students – many of whom had competed in the challenge as school pupils in previous years – and cheered on by more than 40 school staff, parents and employers.

Prizes were donated by Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, GF Tomlinson and Brewers Decorator Centre.

Forty pupils from John Flamsteed Community School, Murray Park Community School, Royal School for the Deaf Derby and Aldercar High School competed in Brickwork and Painting and Decorating challenges.  

The Brickwork competition was won by Taylor Fildes (Aldercar High School) with John Flamsteed Community School’s George McFarlane and Bobby Sutton coming second and third.

Murray Park Community School pupil Kinga Zareba came first in the Painting and Decorating competition with Harry Phillips (John Flamsteed Community School) coming second and joint third place to Rene Kurecaj and Morgan Wood, both from Murray Park.

Meanwhile, pupils from Brackenfield Special School held their own competition to test their general Construction skills with prizes awarded to Aiden-Jay McDowell, Joshua Crowther-Moore and Raymond Travis-Shelbourne.

DCG Head of Construction Eileen Swan said: “The competition is designed to showcase the school pupils’ skills that they have developed during their time here and to highlight employment opportunities, apprenticeships and full time study programme opportunities that are open to them after leaving school.

“It was wonderful that so many teachers and parents came along to support the competitors and see just how far they have come.

“We are particularly grateful to the employers who have supported the event.  The feedback was that they were very impressed with the standard of the work completed and have earmarked several of the young men and women for potential apprenticeships in the future.”

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