Mission ‘impastable’: Southwell pupils challenged to build spaghetti bridges

Directors of local housing developer Stagfield Group and contractor nmcn Plc tasked school pupils to create a sturdy bridge out of spaghetti as part of a careers taster morning last week at new Southwell development, The Rise.

The morning of onsite learning took place at The Rise, Halloughton Lane development in the minster-town of Southwell, and students from The Minster School took part in a hotly contested competition to design, build and test their spaghetti bridges to destruction.

The challenge included taking spaghetti strands and bonding them together with materials such as sticky tape, blu tac and string.

Kevin Hard, of real estate developer Stagfield Group and Robert Moyle of construction engineering company nmcn Plc are working on the housing development situated just off Nottingham Road in Southwell, and were present at the out-of-school learning session which hopes to teach pupils the basics of construction and give them an insight into the industry.

Kevin Hard said: “Our respective businesses want to create a positive legacy with young people by encouraging them to join the construction industry – an industry which offers great career opportunities.

“Fingers crossed, we’ve shown a range of options to enter the construction industry and we hope to see them on building projects in the future.”

Robert Moyle said: “The hands-on project saw pupils visit our Southwell site, study before and after pictures of development sites, and explore the different roles and jobs within a construction business and the wider industry.

“The day ended with a fun and practical test ­— a spaghetti bridge competition. Pupils were tasked with building a spaghetti bridge to ultimately test its durability and use the skills they learnt during the session, it was a test for destruction.”

Assistant head teacher, Mrs Lyons for The Minster School, Southwell, said: “The students came back, almost certain now that they would like to pursue a career in the construction industry, with many of them now being able to have a firmer idea of what particular career they are interested in.

“These students are about to approach their GCSEs, and it really helps their motivation for the exam period when they have an outcome to focus on.”

Works commenced on The Rise, Southwell development in autumn last year, with the first completion expected to finish in spring 2020. Once complete, the development will consist of 38 two and three-bedroom homes available with Help to Buy and part exchange in the affluent minster-town of Southwell – described as one of the most desirable locations in the Midlands, with a variety of independent traders and three ‘outstanding’ schools. The town centre is just seven miles away and it is close to popular travel routes such as the A1 and fast intercity rail links to London Kings Cross.

 

Pygott & Crone Estate Agents and Gascoines Estate Agents are acting as joint agents on The Rise development and properties were released for sale this month and have already received strong interest.

 

Tim Downing, director of Pygott & Cone said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Gascoines in this prestigious development. Southwell is a desirable location in the Midlands and The Rise is a welcome addition to the minster town – offering this exclusive spacious living collection of homes.”

 

ENDS

Notes to editors

More information about the exclusive Southwell housing development can be found at: http://www.therise-southwell.co.uk/