Students at The Stephen Longfellow Academy were given an amazing opportunity to see the building of the new extension at the Boston Spa Academy. The aim of the visit was to inspire students about the variety of careers in the Construction industry and gain a site experience.
Students from Years 10 & 11 attended the visit. On arrival students were given a short presentation about the different stages of the project by Mark Danford (Managing Director of Framework Installations).
Students were then given a health and safety brief about site risks and then wore Personnel Protective Equipment before entering the working areas.
Students then had a 40-minute tour of the building site speaking to various site staff who explained in detail the different works on going and what they were currently doing. Throughout the tour, students asked a variety of questions and were engaged. Students came across a Site Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Electrical Engineers, Heating and Ducting specialists, Joiners and Painters and Decorators.
Student feedback about the visit was very positive. All students said the visit had inspired them to work in Construction and would recommend the visit to others.
Feedback from Framework Installations staff about the students was also very positive.
“The young men that you brought over were all well behaved, and it was good to show them around. It was good for my staff too, I think. Sometimes we don’t think of our roles from an external perspective and that can help with our own insights and appreciation of what we do.
I do hope that it helped open some thoughts for the attendees, I noted for example that none had previously considered decorating as an option. As I have said, the construction industry needs young people coming through, gaining trades and helping the nation live and work in better spaces.”
Mark Danford (Managing Director)
The school will continue to develop its relationships with Framework Installations to support its Career Programme and inspire our students. Since the site visit, Framework Installations have contacted Stephen Longfellow Academy and have offered apprenticeship interviews for three Year 11 students from the group of students who visited.
Raj Gill (Careers Officer)