Youngsters see new school in the making
Dozens of youngsters have been given a behind-the-scenes tour of a steel factory to see how their new school is being made.
The youngsters from four different schools in the North-East have been shown around the shop floor at Finley Structures on Aycliffe Business Park, to see how raw steel will form the core of their new building.
They were first given a 3D demonstration by a structural engineer to see a virtual construction on screen, before going on to the shop floor to see the steel being fabricated by the most advanced computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery available.
It gave the pupils – from Glendene School in Easington Colliery, Dene School in Peterlee, Hebburn Primary School near South Shields and SEN1 (Bedewell) – an insight into how their new school will develop and take shape.
The children’s visit is a joint-venture by Carillion Building, the firm responsible for the new school buildings, and one of their major sub-contractors Finley Structures.
John Finley, managing director of the family-run firm, said: “The children really enjoyed themselves and, hopefully, they’ve learned a lot.
“We’re committed to involving the community on our projects and it’s always rewarding to see children come in and learn about our operations.
“They all responded very positively and asked our key staff lots of questions which showed their interest.”
Carillion plc is one of the UK’s leading support services and construction companies.
They’re currently working on a 105-tonne new-build at Hebburn School, a 213-tonne new-build at Dene School, a 50-tonne extension at Glendene School and a 213-tonne new-build at SEN1 in Bedewell, Hebburn.
Pupils from Glendene School saw how their new £3m development will take shape, while they also signed a steel plate with their initials, which will be welded in permanently and incorporated into the construction.
Craig Platt, deputy head teacher at the school who also attended the Finley Structures visit, said: “It provided the children with an amazing social experience.
“It gave them an insight into the world of work but it also gives them a sense of ownership with the new-build that’s currently in the process of being constructed
“They’ve seen the process of the raw steel being fabricated at Finley Structures and how everyone works together as a team.
“They found it thoroughly fascinating and they’ve all benefited hugely from the visit.”
« Back to NewsState-of-the-art facilities
Our 90,000 sq ft production facility is packed with state-of-the-art machinery. We provide a wide range of structural solutions to the construction industry and offer a range of in-house services – including estimating, design and detailing, steel fabrication, painting and installation – enabling a cost-effective and efficient all-round service to main contractors.
