Schools challenge proves inter-esting for Buckinghamshire pupils

Pupils from schools across Buckinghamshire have demonstrated a real ‘Do It Yourself’ attitude when taking on the Inter Schools Challenge organised by maintenance specialist partners Paradigm Housing and Connaught Partnerships Ltd.

Teams comprising year nine girls and boys from The Misbourne, Chalfont Community College, Beaconsfield School and hosts Chesham Park Community College took on four taxing challenges each under the expert guidance of the maintenance teams from Connaught.

The pupils were required to demonstrate the kind of skills that could help lead to a career in the maintenance industries, including tiling a wall to create the Paradigm Housing Group logo, plumbing and putting together a flatpack chest of drawers. While undertaking the quantity surveying challenge the students also had to plan and cost out a housing development, taking on roles encompassing architecture and construction management.

David Hinchley, Connaught operations manager, said: “The whole event was a terrific success and the pupils showed tremendous skill and bags of enthusiasm throughout. It was impressive to see just how keen they were to ‘have a go’ and learn as they progressed and now each of the schools will be offered work experience placements as part of the partnership between Connaught and Paradigm.”

The scores for team work, task completion, enthusiasm and attitude were both high and close, but the overall winners were Beaconsfield School who were presented with a trophy by Stuart Bishop, Head of Asset Management for Paradigm. All participants received a certificate and goody bag but the most outstanding individual award was presented to Ben Woodward from Chesham Park.

Beaconsfield School teacher Delroy Gibson said: “I feel very humbled and proud. It was a fantastic day for the pupils while their enthusiasm, comradeship and teamwork was brilliant. The whole event proved to be a terrific learning exercise and challenges such as the quantity surveying discipline brought to life some elements covered in mathematics and as a result proved to be great fun for the pupils. “