A group of twenty students took part in Wirral Met’s Girls in Construction event in April. The event was all about challenging stereotypes, changing perceptions and increasing diversity. As well as a talk about trades such as joinery, plastering and plumbing, there was a chance to tour the workshop areas and have a go at some practical activities.
The visit was focused around the college’s construction, automotive and engineering departments. The college’s school liaison, Paul, presented an overview of the whole construction curriculum area. There was then a chance to meet some of the female staff and students to hear about their experiences, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.
A tour of the workshop areas followed. The trades covered were joinery, plastering, painting and plumbing. The students were then set a task of creating a candlestick holder from copper pipe. This involved using a pipe bender as well as soldering to secure the joining of the metal surfaces.
Miss Cotter says: “Overall, Girls in Construction was a highly illuminating and useful event, not just offering the girls an insight into a range of trades but also challenging the idea that ‘only men can wear muddy boots’. It is outdated and it is also wrong. The girls came away with a clear understanding that construction is a serious post-16 option for them.”
