CITB-ConstructionSkills commends pupils at Tain Royal Academy for building their own classroom

Pupils at Tain Royal Academy in Ross-shire have been commended by CITB-ConstructionSkills for tackling a highly innovative project as part of their ‘Skills for Construction Work’ course.

CITB-Construction Skills, the leading sector skills council and Construction Industry Training Board, praised the project which saw S3 and S4 pupils literally build their own classroom.

Students of the school, which had lacked space to provide pupils with a comfortable and practical area in which to learn about the construction trade, decided to design and build their own dedicated workshop, under the watchful eye of technology teacher, Tommy Agnew.  The workshop attached to the school will allow pupils to perform activities required for the course and also give them a realistic appreciation for working in the industry by providing them with hands-on construction skills.

Students were involved from the very beginning, from the initial idea, to working with architects, planners and contractors on the project and as part of the general scope of work; they fleshed out ideas on who could help with the associated tasks from local companies, to multinationals, industry grants and administrative bodies.

Armed with a list of materials required for the build, the pupils and teachers contacted companies to seek donations and sponsorship to get the build started. Highland Construction Training Group (supported by CITB) was so impressed by the pupils’ enthusiasm and drive that it donated more than £1,000 to the project to fit out the inside of the workshop with dedicated collapsible work benches to allow the school to teach all aspects of the course within the shed, and for materials to maintain the high standard that has been set.

Evan Gray, Company Development Advisor at CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: “It has been a pleasure to be able to support such an innovative project, helping young people learn the necessary skills for the construction industry. 

“It’s always great to see young people who have a real passion for the industry learn new skills that will benefit them in the future. It’s no small feat what they have all worked to achieve and we’re pleased to offer our support and guidance to them along the way. Everyone who is involved in the project should be very proud of themselves.

“By being involved in such a project, the pupils’ CVs will contain experience of real construction to give them a strong chance of employment or further study within the industry.”

Tommy Agnew, Teacher of Technology at Tain Royal Academy, said: “This project has been a revelation to the pupils who have opted for Skills for Work Construction. It has given them a unique opportunity to participate in real construction with all of its frustrations and elation.

“The pupils have immersed themselves fully in the build and have gained experience of different trades and conditions they would never have come across in a workshop environment. When it is completed they will have left a real legacy for themselves and to younger pupils carrying on with the course.”

The project is still on-going – for further information on how you can help, please contact Tommy Agnew at Tain Royal Academy on 01862 892 121.

For more information on CITB-ConstructionSkills, please visit www.citb.co.uk

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