Member Article

Tong Helps Bradford Teenagers Build Foundations

Tong High School is helping to tackle youth unemployment with a brand new vocational Construction Centre which offers pupils a learning experience like no other.

Officially unveiled at the weekend, the innovative learning centre will add an extra dimension to the school’s BTEC courses, giving pupils the chance to learn outside the classroom and hone their skills in a ‘real-life’ construction environment.

Created in partnership with leading building and civil engineering company, Moortown Construction, Rex Procter and Partners, Pitts Wilson Electrical and NG Bailey, the converted former caretakers house is part of the school’s ‘Classroom in Construction’ scheme which offers a direct route to employment for students choosing to pursue a career in the industry.

The centre was opened by Jonathan Milnes, Assistant HSEQ Manager at Moortown Construction, alongside Tong High School Headteacher, Steve Curran at a ceremony which took place during the school’s open day.

Head Teacher Steve Curran said: “With youth unemployment at record levels, over 1m in July 2012, and so many young people currently not in education, employment and training, we are working hard to ensure our students are best equipped to reach their full potential – whether they’re set for university life or the world of work. As part of this, we are building links with leading businesses to ensure we continue to develop employability skills.

“Each room in the house has a different base to enable the students to practice all different aspects of construction from joinery to plumbing in a ‘real life’ environment, which is great for the students’ development. The links we have with our construction partners and other local employers allow us to offer these unique opportunities to our students to increase their experience and most importantly in these times of austerity to provide a direct route to employment.”

Tong High School achieved record-breaking GCSE results this year with 77 percent of pupils gaining at least 5 A*-C grades and 46 percent of students gaining 5 or more GCSEs including English and Maths. For the last two years it has been named one of the top 100 most improved schools in the country. It also recently became the first secondary school in England to achieve the ‘Investors in Pupils’ standard across the whole school, recognising the school’s commitment to students’ personal development.

Tong High School is a multi-cultural co-educational school for 11-19 year olds which serves a wide area of south east Bradford with 1,600 pupils. The school was one of 105 secondary schools across the country to recently receive personal congratulations by Schools Minister Nick Gibb because of its progress in English and maths GCSE results based on grades A* to C between 2009 and 2011. Follow the school on Twitter @Tong_HighSchool.

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