It was top marks all round from pupils following a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) event delivered as part of our new housing supply community benefits.
Primary 4 and 5 pupils from Shawhead and St Bernard’s Primary Schools took part in blended classes to learn more about careers within the construction industry. The educational and fun lessons included bridge building and outdoor construction challenges.
This session is one aspect of the community benefits commitment agreed as part of the Dunnotar Avenue development in Shawhead. The new housing project, which is close to the primary schools, will deliver around 100 new build homes council homes and is part of our housing supply programme which aims to deliver 6,000 new homes by 2035.
Attending the event was Housing Convener, Councillor Michael McPake, who said: “When agreeing our new build contracts with housing developers we secure a range of benefits to be rolled out across our local communities. These benefits help boost employment and skills, provide opportunities for local people and businesses, and support a range of community projects.
“This event is an excellent example of how we're putting communities at the heart of our house building plans and supporting young people towards positive outcomes. We work with education, supported enterprise and employability teams to facilitate work experience and opportunities to positive destinations within construction. It was great fun seeing the enthusiasm of the pupils as they took on the challenge and I hope they enjoyed taking part in the sessions.”
The activities, delivered by Contractor CCG (Scotland), aim to help bridge the gap in awareness and understanding of careers within the construction industry. The two interactive sessions were designed to develop key skills such as teamwork, creativity, problem solving and planning.
The bridge building challenge saw pupils assigned roles including architect, planner, site manager, and builder. Using Kapla blocks, pupils were tasked with designing and constructing a bridge. Teams discussed ideas, produced a design and were encouraged to plan.
Session two, an outdoor construction challenge, involved pupils building the tallest, most stable, and cost-effective structure using Lego. Pupils had a set budget, with different coloured bricks assigned varying costs, introducing an element of financial awareness. They had time to design, test, and refine their ideas before completing a final build within both time and budget constraints.
Lynn Stodart, CCG Group HR Manager, said: “Primary and secondary school engagement forms an important part of our community benefit programmes. They provide pupils with a valuable opportunity to be introduced to the core concepts within the construction industry in a practical and engaging way, helping to inspire interest in future career pathways while supporting curriculum-based learning. Each event is managed by our in-house team, who are always looking for new and interesting ways to promote the construction industry, and I am delighted to hear that their efforts have had such a positive impact on the pupils of Shawhead and St Bernard’s.”
Mrs. Rhodes, Head Teacher, Shawhead Primary School, commented: “We were delighted to take part in this event. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed engaging in a wide range of activities that helped them explore the many roles within the construction industry. The children have taken a keen interest in the building work taking place behind the school, and as Head Teacher, I believe it’s important that they feel included and connected to the changing landscape within the Shawhead community. We look forward to taking part in further planned activities next session.”
Mrs. Dunn, Head Teacher, St. Bernard’s Primary School, added: “We were delighted to take part in this collaborative event and provide our pupils with the opportunity to learn more about the construction industry. The wide range of interactive activities sparked great interest and encouraged children to think about the many career pathways available within this sector. As Head Teacher of St Bernard’s Primary School, I am passionate about ensuring our children have meaningful connections to the world around them and the developments taking place within their local community. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the day. Thank you to Shawhead Primary for your partnership and for hosting this event.”