AN imaginative project by four Caldicot School students has focussed on the importance of observing health and safety regulations around building sites.

The students – Emily Lewis, Sophie Lewis, Maisha Miah and Georgia Mountfield  - ran a competition open to pupils of primary schools who will pursue their secondary education in Caldicot this September and the year after. Caldicot School is currently being rebuilt to 21st century school standards with the new structure erected alongside the present 1960’s building.

Even though the Caldicot site is securely contained by fencing, the four girls considered it vital that pupils from the area’s feeder primary schools were aware of safety issues - including the wearing of hard hats, suitable footwear and highly visible clothing as well as strictly following necessary rules and procedures.  Inviting local Year Five and Six pupils to design a poster warning of the dangers posed by building sites, Emily, Sophie, Maisha and Georgia were delighted by the standards attained.  

The project was run in conjunction with the Welsh Baccalaureate curriculum the four follow as they approach higher education.  The course is skills-based and includes the production of a high standard project with benefits for the community.  Help and advice were provided by staff from Interserve, the contractors building the new school.

Winners were chosen from each of the participating primary schools with the main award presented by Caldicot School’s Chair of Governors, Peter Nurcombe, to Violet Stones of the town’s Castle Park Primary School.

Caldicot School Headteacher Susan Gwyer-Roberts said: “The Chair, governors and I are delighted with the learning programme that our four post-sixteen students have created and delivered to our primary pupils. The quality of the posters from these young pupils is outstanding and we are very proud of their work.

“This is an excellent example of a transition project that brings so many benefits to our community. It will be very exciting for the winners to see the build develop from construction to opening in the next year!”

Caldicot’s new school is scheduled to open in autumn 2017.