Linking Schools to Local Industry

Linking Schools to Local Industry

December 15, 2022
Groundwork East are a charity working across the East of England to create stronger, healthier communities, responsible business and greater prospects for local people. They are also one of CEMEX UK’s Social Impact partners for 2022.

During 2022 Groundworks and CEMEX have worked together on The CEMEX Quarry project. Funded by CEMEX UK and organised by Groundworks East, the project took place between March and October 2022 with Green Lanes Primary School, St. Philip Howard Primary School, Birchwood Avenue Primary School, Oakview Primary School and Onslow St. Audreys Secondary School.

All five schools are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The schools were chosen due to their proximity to CEMEX’s Hatfield quarry. The programme for all schools included a visit to Hatfield quarry and Amwell Nature Reserve, and two classroom sessions.

The project was a great success; it gave the children opportunities to learn about industry on their doorstep and provided them with ‘real life’ examples, through exploring and comparing a working quarry to a quarry which had been restored as a nature reserve.

The children took part in activities such as fossil making, bird watching, sketching and role playing and debates. The activities allowed the children to: learn about local industry and the process of quarrying; learn about local wildlife and the impact on the environment from quarrying; and gain knowledge about local geology and the formation of fossils. The children took a great interest in learning about their local area as shown by their enthusiasm to research further into the topic at home and in school.

The project has proved to be very popular with local schools that see it as a great way of meeting many requirements of the National Curriculum.

Here is some of the feedback from the participating schools: 

“The children from Green Lanes have loved their visits to CEMEX quarry and Amwell Nature Reserve. It has allowed them the opportunity to experience different environmnents that some may not have been able to experience before. They were able to see first hand the impact of quarrying and the resulting positive impact it can have. This helped bring their learning to life and spark a range their enthusiasm to learn more and ask questions.”