Future Builders: Year 10 Get a Blueprint for Success with Willmott Dixon
Our Year 10 students recently traded their standard timetable for a high-vis look into the future, as Oulton Academy hosted a morning of career-focused activities led by the prestigious construction company Willmott Dixon.
As the firm will be soon transforming our campus with a brand-new school building, Willmott Dixon provided an expert perspective on what it takes to build the world around us.
Exploring the Industry
The morning kicked off with an insightful talk on the diverse career paths within construction. Students learned that the industry isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it requires a massive team of Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Project Managers, and Designers. The team also demystified the routes into the trade, explaining how students can join the company through apprenticeships, T-Levels, or the university degree route.
Designing the Dream School
Creativity took centre stage during the first workshop, where students were tasked with designing their "dream school." After some intense brainstorming, the groups presented their ideas—and the results were ambitious! Highlights included:
- A luxury rooftop swimming pool.
- State-of-the-art sports facilities.
- A commemorative statue of our Principal, Mr Higgins!
The Construction Challenge
After a quick break, the energy shifted to a hands-on "beat the clock" challenge. Using professional construction kits, students raced to build as many different structures as possible within a strict time limit, testing their teamwork, engineering logic, and speed under pressure.
A Huge Thank You
Oulton Academy would like to extend a massive thank you to the staff from Willmott Dixon for taking the time to inspire our students. It was an incredibly informative morning that proved the future of construction—and our new school—is in very safe hands.
