Students Get a Taste of Construction in Hands-On Taster Session

Students stepped into the world of construction during an exciting taster session, offering a first look at the brand-new GCSE Construction course set to launch for Year 10 students in the next academic year. This hands-on experience is part of our ongoing commitment to delivering a dynamic curriculum that equips students with real- world skills and opens up a variety of career pathways.

The session was run in partnership with SATRO Construction, a respected educational organisation known for its engaging, practical learning experiences across the construction and engineering sectors. Led by Seth from SATRO, the session introduced students to one of the most essential plumbing skills: soldering copper pipe joints.

To kick things off, students were challenged to create their own initials out of copper piping. Not only did this give students a keepsake to be proud of, but it also sparked curiosity and excitement about the construction industry as a whole.

Using professional-grade tools and materials, students learned the importance of precision and safety while developing foundational technical skills. For many, it was their first opportunity to work with copper piping, and the satisfaction of applying theoretical knowledge in a practical setting made a strong impression.

This Construction taster session is just one of several new curriculum additions designed to broaden students’ learning opportunities and prepare them for a wide range of post-16 options. Alongside Construction, we will be introducing Business Studies, as a new GCSE subject next year, reflecting the school’s mission to provide a balance of academic and vocational pathways.

Mr Skelton, Head of GCSE Options at Bolder Academy, shared his enthusiasm:

“We’re incredibly excited to be launching Construction and Business Studies as part of our GCSE offer. The taster session gave students a fantastic insight into what the Construction course will involve and the types of practical skills they’ll develop. It’s all about helping students find their passion and setting them up for future success, whether that’s further education, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce directly.”

The full Construction course, beginning in September, will combine theory with practical work and cover a broad range of topics including plumbing, electrical basics, carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, and health and safety. It promises to be a dynamic and valuable addition to our growing, future-focused curriculum.