Schools build towards skills contest glory

THREE Lothians schools have triumphed at the first two heats of a construction challenge competition.

Pupils from Merchiston Castle School won the first heat, while North Berwick and Tynecastle high schools drew in the second heat.

Second-year pupils from 26 schools across the Lothians are taking part in the Construction and the Built Environment Challenge, which sees a series of heats with teams battling it out to be crowned the champions of 2011.

Now in its 12th year, the challenge is sponsored by the Scottish Government, SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Building Services Engineering, and is also supported by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Construction.

Graeme Ogilvy, director for ConstructionSkills in Scotland, said: “The competition is a great way to introduce pupils to the construction and building services engineering industry and learn more about teamwork, accuracy and working within timescales – qualities that are important within any job.

“We are dedicated to promoting the benefits of working in construction.”