Top marks for playground revamp

Six trainee managers have gone back to school to hone their project handling skills, but not in the classroom – they were outside helping resurface the playground.

The team planned, costed and co-ordinated the community project to refurbish Ickford School’s play area as part of their creating engaging managers plus programme.

Kyle Boyd, James Lloyd, Liam Jones, James King, Cameron Bradford-Doig and Jamie Watts also helped break up and remove the old paving, and wheelbarrowed two-and-a-half trucks’ worth of asphalt during the laying.

Team co-ordinator Kyle said they had expert support from head of contracting Andy Harrison and his team.

“Andy persuaded three companies to provide labour, materials and equipment for free or at a discount,” said Kyle, one of four LEAD management apprentices on the project at the Buckinghamshire primary.

“Everyone played their parts in the planning and working on site over the nine days. The second week was very hot, which made the wheelbarrowing really tough.

“We visited the school in the autumn term and they were really pleased with their new surface,” added Kyle, who is based at Whatley quarry.