Young people, teachers and industry professionals came to Salford Quays, Manchester, on 16 March to take part in a day of talks, interactive learning and a careers exhibition about the construction and the built environment (C&BE) diploma, presented by ConstructionSkills.
Oldham College tutor Keith Martin with C&BE diploma students Daniel McGlynn and Aidan Cameron © ConstructionSkills
Set against the backdrop of Media City, one of the biggest construction sites in Europe, the event at the Lowry Centre in Salford marked the first six months of the C&BE diploma and celebrated the achievements of young people across England.
Roy Cavanagh from the Sector Skills Group opened the day by stressing that the C&BE diploma is a not just a course about construction, but about also about the built environment.
In his keynote speech, Sir Michael Latham, chairman of ConstructionSkills said, ‘In years to come people who have studied the C&BE diploma and gone on to work in the field will be able to take their grandchildren to an iconic building like this and say “I built that”.’
Sharing best practice across the consortia
Liverpool, Croydon and Eastleigh consortia took the stage at the end of the morning to share the successes of the first six months of diploma delivery.
Di Ross, assistant head teacher from Alsop High School, in the Liverpool consortia said, ‘The diploma works best as a partnership process.’ She said that the course had changed young people’s view of construction for the better.
The Liverpool consortia went on to share the findings of a six month student review of the C&BE diploma. The feedback was positive and highlighted what students liked most about the course - including:
- the variety of the C&BE diploma
- personalised learning
- the opportunity to go on visits
- meaningful work experience
- hearing from local experts
- being able to access experts.
Conah, a student from Liverpool Community College echoed the feedback when he said ‘I am learning to work as part of a team in a working environment.’
Oldham College C&BE diploma students, winners of the town planning competition © ConstructionSkills
Celebrating success in the Croydon consortium
Joe Stopani, course leader from Croydon College praised the C&BE diploma as a course that gives young people an opportunity to ‘look at construction in the fullest sense’.
He said the success factors for the diploma included ‘encouraging young people to work well with employers and to take part in the diploma with a sense of purpose.’
Learning Outside the Classroom in the Eastleigh consortium
Steven Shaw, from the Eastleigh consortium, talked about the approach they were taking in engaging students in the course. By developing a strong working relationship with their local architecture centre and Planning Aid they have been able to create a unique programme of learning. Their programme draws heavily on taking the students out of the classroom, visiting sites, buildings, local organisations and areas of local interest.
To another six months and beyond
‘It’s been a really good day’, said a student from Blackrod School in Oldham at the end of the afternoon sessions. The success of the event was attributed to bringing together young people, teachers and built environment experts and employers.
The challenges ahead were recognised, but there was a feeling that by working in partnership and by ensuring that the C&BE diploma has the support of employers; there would be many more reasons to celebrate in the coming years.
Further articles on the C&BE diploma
From zero to hero interest!
Construction and the built environment diploma
C&BE diploma: the story so far
C&BE diploma links
ConstructionSkills
C&BE diploma website
QCA - diploma page
Directgov diploma site
Bconstructive – a site about construction careers for students, developed by ConstructionSkills
For guidance on teaching the C&BE diploma
