A number of pupils in Year 8 and 9 attended interactive workshops provided by the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on Wednesday 13^th July 2022, which was organised by the geography department. 

The aim of the workshops was for pupils to select the most cost-effective building to construct for a community centre.  The pupils worked in groups to demonstrate teamwork skills and allocated themselves different roles to include a Project Manager (PM), Planning and Development (P&D), Building Surveyor (B), Environmental Surveyor (E) and Quality Surveyor (QS). 

The pupils used iPads to respond to the need of local stakeholders by selecting the facilities most needed within the community centre such as an ICT suite.  The pupils then used their numeracy skills to select the most cost-effective building using 3D models.  The pupils evaluated the most suitable site to locate and build a community centre using site boards. 

Finally, the pupils responded to an environmental challenge, which was the discovery of great crested newts (triturus cristatus).  The pupils learnt property surveying in a real-life challenge, which generated an interest in the profession.  Professional facilitators ran the workshops and brought supported by RICS ambassadors.  The ambassadors were able to answer pupil’s questions about careers within the RICS.