STEWARTON ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION INNOVATIVE SCHOOL PROJECT

S5 pupil R.D started working on Stewarton Academy’s construction project at the start of the school term in August 2021. He had previously had the chance to do an Introduction to Construction course at the Kilmarnock campus of Ayrshire college whilst in S4 and felt that moving onto the DYW construction project in S5 was the perfect pathway.

“I picked this on my timetable because I’m more of a practical person. I struggle a bit with academic lessons where I’m sitting in a classroom and I want to work in construction so this was an easy choice for me. I’m very hands on and I like being outside in all weathers, I even like the heavy bits and the digging. We’ve been building a path around the Astro pitches for the students to walk on and even though we were out in all weathers digging into the ground, I just knew this is what I wanted to do when I left school. We’ve done a bit of everything; mono-blocking, digging, mixing cement and now we’re due to start the bricklaying part of the course which is the bit I’m really looking forward to. Ewan, our lecturer is great, he’s from the college so its different, we can have a laugh and he really knows what he’s talking about.”

Ms Vallance, the DYW Coordinator at Stewarton Academy has seen a big difference in R’s attitude to school,

“I don’t think R would’ve come back at the end of S4 had it not been for the construction project. It really tapped into what sort of person R is and how he enjoys more practical learning. He’s really enthusiastic and takes this lesson seriously so it can be a real help to other pupils on the project as they pick up on how much R is enjoying it. R will get his Level 4 Construction Operatives qualification which will make him more appealing to companies looking to recruit apprentices but also as a potential full time college student if he decides go down that route.”

Well done to everyone involved in this amazing project!