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CITB NI award top GCSE students at building awards
The students who gained the highest grades in GCSE Construction and Built Environment in 2015 were recognised by CITB NI at the annual Chartered Institute of Building Awards held at Nutts Corner last night.
The GCSE in Construction and the Built Environment has been developed by CCEA to give students a realistic understanding and experience of Construction that will enable them to develop an authentic working relationship with the real world-of-work.
First and second place with the were awarded to Jonathan Loughridge, Ballymena Academy and Emmett Hamill, St Patricks’s Grammar, Armagh. Third place was awarded to Conor McAvoy, Abbey CBS Grammar School, Newry.
The students were invited to the annual Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Awards hosted by CITB NI which awarded those professionals who gained CIOB status throughout the year and included a presentation on the Welcome-Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queens University Belfast.
On presenting the awards, Barry Neilson, Chief Executive, CITB NI, said, “Congratulations to all the students who excelled in GCSE in Construction and the Built Environment. We are delighted you chose to study a topic that reflects todays modern construction industry. This is a growing topic of choice with 545 pupils sitting the exam in 2015 and 33 schools now offering the subject at GCSE level. We provide help and guidance on the topic via our textbook and we hope that by studying and excelling at this level you may possibly consider a career in a dynamic industry with lots of opportunities to choose from.”
“Whilst the construction industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn, there are modest levels of growth on the horizon. Construction has built our homes, hospitals, schools, roads and these buildings and landmarks will be here long after they have been constructed. It is a rewarding industry that young people should still consider entering. There are opportunities to develop your managerial skills, start your own business, work internationally or become a master craftsman. There are good prospects for career enhancement and there is good earning potential.”
Pictured are Tom Heaney CCEA, Conor McAvoy Abbey CBS Grammar, Newry (3rd place), Johnathan Loughridge Ballymena Academy (1st place) Emmett Hamill, St Patricks Grammar, Armagh and Barry Neilson Chief Executive CITB NI.