A group of our Year 10 have this week been presented with their certificates for taking part in a Virtual Work Experience (VWEX) scheme over half term.
The students involved were Olivia Thomson, Joe Cottrell, Caleb Smith, Emi-Leigh Rudd, Rhys Jackson, Aaron Smith, Harry Finlinson, Layla Fatialofa, Jessica Kitchen, Missy Freestone and Bethany Forbes.
The week-long Virtual Work Experience initiative saw the students log in using Google Classroom and take part in a number of digital challenges and tasks, before presenting a final project to an expert panel including Morgan Sindall Construction’s senior team.
Students from St Benedict’s, West Lakes Academy, and Energy Coast UTC all took part.
They worked together in teams of 6 students to plan, cost and concept design a foot and cycle road bridge across the A595. This bridge is to allow pupils to safely cross the busy road to their school. The bridge should enable the safe passage of pedestrians and cyclists.
Throughout the week long programme students learnt about bridge design, project management, cost engineering, planning, safety, environmental, quality, construction management, presentation skills.
One of the teams from St Benedict’s went on to win the overall challenge!
The team was made up of students. Layla Fatialofa, Beth Forbes, , Emi- Leigh Rudd , Jessica Kitchen, Missy Freestone and Harry Finlinson.
Layla Fatialofa commented:
“This work experience was really good, it made me realise there’s a lot more to Morgan Sindall than I thought. I enjoyed sharing my opinion with others and working together as a team. Our group work payed off when we found out we won the bridge project competition, which was really good as we put a lot of effort into it. I left this work experience feeling more confident with sharing my opinion and I now feel interested in the planning a project.”
Emi-Leigh Rudd said:
“The work experience was a really good opportunity for us and allowed us to develop our communication and team work skills.”
Beth Forbes said:
“It was a great opportunity to for us and allowed us to broaden our team work and communication skills. It was also a good way of helping choose what career path I wanted to take in the future.”
Melody Martin from Morgan Sindall commented:
“I want to say how impressed I have been this week with the St Benedict’s students, they have been a credit to your school. They have engaged fully with the programme, attended every session (with cameras on) and asked so many questions!”
