Project Description

BAM Opens Construction Door to Woodmill Pupils 

BAM Construct UK and Woodmill High School continue partnership to deliver another ‘Intro to Construction’ programme aimed at pupils who had expressed an interest in the construction industry.   

This project is arranged through BAM to run for a select group of pupils  over the course of their S3 and S4 school year, showcasing the options and careers available in the industry. The project has been running since 2021 and the pupils have been able to apply what they have been learning to the live progression of the construction of the Dunfermline Learning Campus (DLC).  

BAM construct is run by Claire Anderson, Social Impact Manager, and Kelsi Gray, Site Administrator, coordinate the project and organize the sessions. Some workshops have involved a former Woodmill pupil, Marc McGuire, who is currently one of the BAM Graduate Apprentices in Quantity Surveying.  

The pupils benefitted from several workshops including a visit to the DLC during the enabling works, talks regarding the materials that are being used in the construction, a visit to Fife College to try bricklaying and door frame construction and a follow up visit to the DLC to see the progress. The group had the opportunity to talk to a number of different trades on site including Intumescent Painters, Joiners who have been constructing the Glulam frame, Site Managers, Quantity Surveyors and a variety of Engineers.  

The whole project was really enjoyable for pupils and they have had exposure to a range of different opportunities that they would not have had if they were not part of this project.  

For some pupils, this project has afforded them the opportunity to link what they have learned on the project to their subjects particularly within the Design, Engineering and Technology department where they have learned about different materials- they have been able to see this in use at the new Dunfermline Learning Campus. Based on their experiences, pupils have been able to link their future career goals with a pathway they were unaware of prior to the project, specifically the different types of joinery trades.  

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive from pupils and staff who have accompanied them on their various visits.  

Pupils said the following: 

“I’ve really enjoyed it, my favourite bit was going to try brick laying and getting hands on” 

“It’s been really good getting to speak to people doing different jobs on the site. I knew I wanted to do joinery but think after meeting the joiners on the building site I want to work on the stuff that they are rather than making kitchens and finishing joiners.” 

“Been fun seeing the new school going up because we saw them preparing the groundworks last year and we’ve spoken to the different site designers and engineers about the stages.” 

The project will culminate in the pupils gaining work experience with BAM in Summer 2023. They have had to detail their progress in workbooks as they have moved through the project to help them with their CV and application for their work experience placement.