JOBS AND SKILLS
Constructing careers
A Greenford school has been leading the
way in the search for the next generation of
construction and engineering professionals,
reports Phil Brent.
T
he Cardinal Wiseman
Catholic School is the first in
the borough to offer Design
Engineer Construct (DEC). It
is an accredited learning programme
and is equivalent to a GCSE. In the
near future, the course will also
become A-level equivalent and it
has been such a success at Cardinal
Wiseman that it is being introduced to
other schools in the borough.
‘A HUGE SHORTFALL’
“There is a huge shortfall of young men
and woman going into the construction
industry and DEC
provides a pathway for
students to build
their knowledge
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Paul Foote, the
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school’s curriculum
employable skills.
co-ordinator for
The first group of DEC students
design and technology.
completed their qualification at Cardinal
Through a project-based approach,
Wiseman and received 18 A stars and
DEC applies traditional academic
four As. There are two more groups at
subjects to the latest construction
the school (in year 9 and 10) who are
industry practices. The result is
currently working through the course.
‘PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT’
Julia Podlinska, a recent graduate of
DEC and now a year 12 student, said:
“I’m proud to be part of the first group
of students who have studied DEC.
There is a special feeling amongst our
class because there was nothing like
this course before and we had to
learn collaboratively.”
Councillor Jasbir Anand,
the council’s cabinet
member for business
and community services,
said: “The success of
the inaugural course
delivered in the borough
brings with it the promise
of more for future students
and shows them what they
can achieve.”
10
around ealing December 2018