Egglescliffe School in Stockton and Great Park Academy, Newcastle, have taken top spots in a construction industry challenge.
Coordinated by Northern Counties Builders Federation and Constructing Excellence North East, the winning teams were awarded a £500 prize and each team member also received a gift voucher.
Egglescliffe School won the Teesside Schools Built Environment Wonder Challenge with Great Park Academy, Newcastle, crowned winner of the North East Schools Built Environment Wonder Challenge.
Year 8 pupils worked to a series of submission dates, as they formed mini construction companies to win the contract to prepare a bid for the development of a sustainable school. They also had access to site visits via industry professionals who also offered free advice and support.
The new school had to be functional and environmentally friendly, meeting modern educational needs while embracing energy efficiency, inclusivity and innovation.
The two sector bodies presented teachers across the region with the opportunity to have a ready-made project for students, assisting them in STEM subjects but also geography, design and English.
Companies operating within the region’s construction sector stepped up to sponsor the event. They included Northern Counties Builders Federation, Compass Developments, Carney Consultancy, Wates, TClarke, Caddick Construction, A&N Safety Consultants and RED Engineering.
The Wonder Challenge is divided into three main tasks for each team to undertake. The first being to set up a construction company and research some of the careers involved. The second is to conduct market research, putting together a project plan and designing their sustainable school. This leads to the third task, creating a model of their design and presenting their design and journey in the challenge to a panel of industry experts
In keeping with last year, the challenge was split across the region with a North East and Tees Valley Wonder Challenge.
Tees Valley school finalists included High Tunstall College of Science and Egglescliffe School.
Judges at the Tees Valley final included, Angela Carney, managing director at Carney Consultancy, Diana Kenny, mechanical engineer at RED Engineering, Andrea Nicholls, director at A&N safety consultants, Paul Hoy, operations director, TClarke, Megan Everett, associate at Clyde & co and Debbie Watson, social value manager, Yorkshire and North East at Caddick Construction.
Schools in the North East final included Castle View Enterprise Academy, Hexham Middle School, Collingwood School and Media Arts Centre, Valley Gardens Middle School and Great Park Academy.
Judges for the North East final included Angela Carney, managing director at Carney Consultancy, Gary Brannighan, business development manager at Hodgson Sayers, Stephen O’Neill, director at Compass Developments, Ashleigh Coombes, customer services & social value manager at Wates Group, Kelly Hanley, office manager, Wates Group, Stuart Culley, customer & social value lead at Aureos and Kieron Milley, associate partner, Ridge & Partners LLP.
Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence North East, said: “At a time when we have a skills crisis, entering schools and highlighting the breadth of careers available in construction is invaluable.
“The challenge also provided direct access for students to liaise and interact with professionals working in the built environment, including access to industry experts and site visits.
“We would like to thank everyone who donated time to bring the challenges to life. From our volunteers to the range of companies who sponsored the event.”
Angela Carney, president, NCBF, said: “We say this every year, but the standard of the pupils and their entries was brilliant. Each school is to be commended for their efforts and for really thinking outside of the box.
“They each showed a real willing to learn and deliver on their projects. Working cohesively in teams and learning about the built environment will, hopefully, leave them wanting to learn more about a career in the sector.”