Bellway opens construction site to SEND students exploring careers
Construction students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been given a first-hand insight into careers in housebuilding during a visit to Bellway’s Hedworths Green development at Lambton Park near Chester-le-Street.
The housebuilder welcomed 13 sixth form students from Barbara Priestman Academy in Sunderland, a specialist school for children and young people with autism and complex learning difficulties.
The students, who are studying towards Level 1 construction qualifications, toured the live development with Bellway Durham’s Head of Construction, Daniel Ferguson, and visited a completed showhome with Head of Sales, Lindsey Oliver.
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During the visit, the group saw homes at different stages of the construction process, from groundwork and foundations through to completed properties. They also learned about the health and safety procedures required on active construction sites.
Construction site visit supports practical learning
The visit provided students with the opportunity to see classroom learning applied in a real-world construction environment and explore potential career pathways within the industry.
Construction teacher Aimee Patterson, who accompanied the students alongside teaching assistant David Pells and Barbara Priestman Academy’s Head of Sixth Form Natalie Preece, said the experience had reinforced the skills being developed through their studies.
“It was the first time this cohort of students have visited a real-life construction site and it was a really special experience for them. Due to health and safety restrictions it can be difficult for us to organise construction-related career visits so to be invited by Bellway to their Hedworths Green development was a real treat.
“It was great for the students to see the construction process in action step by step – from the first course of brickwork and the cavity walls, to the pipework and electrics and then the finished article. It really helped to reaffirm everything they have been learning in the classroom, especially the importance of health and safety which is extremely important.
Housebuilding careers and apprenticeships highlighted
The visit also introduced students to the range of training and employment opportunities available across the construction sector, including further education, apprenticeships and practical site-based roles.
Patterson added: “The students loved the experience. It made them feel like their knowledge was relevant and has inspired them to look into college courses, apprenticeships and other routes into the industry. We always have a strong cohort of students who are really practical and who would thrive in hands-on construction roles and be an asset to the industry.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to Bellway for giving us this opportunity. The team were so welcoming, kind and understanding and the students all felt right at home. The information was pitched just at the right level which helped to make the visit very informative and relevant to the course that the students are taking.”
The visit comes as the construction industry continues to promote careers in housebuilding and address long-term skills shortages by engaging with schools, colleges and training providers to encourage more people into the sector.
