Schoolchildren are shown the building blocks to success

Published by Claire Tinston for IPB Communications in Housing and also in Communities

Youngsters at a primary school in Cheetham Hill were given a flavour of what it’s like to work in the construction industry when housing and regeneration company Keepmoat paid a visit to their school this week.

The Year 4,5 and 6 pupils, who all attend Temple Primary School, were given taster sessions of plastering, joinery, electricals, plumbing and bricklaying by the community regeneration specialist to help them make an informed career choice.

Experts ranging from Quantity Surveyors to architects and business development professionals were also on hand to answer any questions the schoolchildren might have.

Keepmoat has built up a special relationship with the school since being appointed by Manchester City Council to carry out an extension of the existing school building and the construction of nine additional classrooms.

The £5 million project, which also includes reconfiguring the existing entrance area to include a first floor extension, an enlarged entrance and staff facilities, is expected to be completed in September 2013.

Operations Manager Jeff Hook of Keepmoat said: “We’re delighted to have carried out this interactive careers demonstration with pupils which gave them an insight into some of the career paths they may choose to follow when they’re older.

“We’re really pleased with the enthusiastic response of the pupils who took part and as a company, we always strive to give something back to the community as part of the projects we deliver nationwide.”

Temple Primary School was built in 2001 as a result of a £3.25 million PFI scheme to provide facilities to over 400 children and staff.  

Apart from providing career advice, Keepmoat has donated £1,000 towards initiatives organised by the school to help aid the schoolchildren’s educational curriculum, such as attendance incentive initiatives. 

Some of this money has been used to fund educational trips including a ‘Super Learning Day’ which involved sending pupils to the National Football Museum in Manchester.

Keepmoat has also delivered health and safety talks to warn schoolchildren about the dangers of entering building sites.

Natalie McGeorge, a middle leader and Year 6 teacher at Temple Primary School who organised the careers day, said: “The enthusiasm and energy from the children speaks for itself – the inspirational visitors, fun hands on activities, the knowledge and expertise shared made it all a highly successful careers day!

“We have definitely achieved what we set out to do which was to raise the children's aspirations at Temple Primary as we now have a number of future builders and architects!”

Muneeba Zaheer, a Year 6 pupil at Temple Primary School, said, 'I really enjoyed the day and found it interesting because we got to experience the jobs people do and we even took part in a real interview to get a job. The part I loved about the building work was the bricklaying and it’s a job I want to do when I’m older now. I think the bricklaying was a great challenge because if the bricks are not straight then you have to knock the wall down and do it again.”