Here's what parents and students have to say

*** found it fun and enjoyable, he feels he has learnt a lot of practical skills from it and is sad that it has finished as he felt like he could of learnt so much more.

Thank you

I enjoyed meeting new people in the woodwork group and learning how to do different things, the only thing I would change is that we could do it again!

My daughter took part in this programme and really enjoyed it. She is an academic student but really thrived from being able to have a chance to learn something new and more hands on. She had a huge sense of achievement from the different things she done during the programme and even came home and with the new skills she had learned, her and her brother managed to use a drill and put up a shelf and a mirror in her room confidently without help from us.

Dear Mr Tridgell,

I would like to start by expressing my sincere thanks for including *** in this programme, he absolutely loved every moment. Each week, he returned home singing your praises and relaying all that he had learnt & achieved in the session. When his shoe rack appeared in his bedroom, I was not expecting the level of design or sturdiness that it indeed was & was quite flabbergasted that he had actually achieved this on his first DT experience. So, thank you so much for guiding & supporting him throughout so that he could & did success.

What would be nice is to see from these sessions is for DT become a subject that students can study & enjoy within the weekly timetable as it does teach so many skills & disciplines which just aren't present in other subjects. And, on a personal note, in time for *** to benefit from them.

Many thanks again,

The experience was amazing, I don’t think there is anything that needs improving other than it could be for a whole day!

My daughter **** took part she excitedly told us what she did planting things around school, she was shown how to use tools such as a drill and she found this really therapeutic. She told us with lots of confidence and excitement and she showed us a picture of what she made.

He honestly really loved it. He's quite a practical kid so he came home very animated, he showed us a pic of the wall you built and was very pleased with himself.

Gardening and construction helped a lot with my mental health and having something to look forward to every week helped with my behaviour.

It was really fun and educational. I learned things I know I would never normally have learned it was fun meeting people from other year groups and talking about our differences.

Thank you so much for giving **** the opportunity to attend this course, **** has really enjoyed learning new skills from you & given him greater knowledge in the field of work he is looking to get into.

Even though I came into this experience knowing some stuff I want to say that I learned a lot from this, I learned teamwork and how to use some tolls properly.

Thanks for this opportunity.

My son attended the skills programme and has very much enjoyed being able to take part, in fact he looked forward to the session each week and excitedly told us about what he had learnt on his return from school, he really enjoyed learning new skills, ones which he may not have had the chance to experience without the group.

I think the idea behind the programme, to improve the confidence of the students alongside learning new skills, is a fundamental part of growth both personally and as part of his educational experience.

My son has really enjoyed your construction group. He came home so happy and was so proud to show us what he had made.

Thank you so much

I would like to thank you for the opportunity you gave to my child as this helped with her confidence.

**** took part in this program and he loved it! Since the start of secondary school **** has struggled with the transition from primary school which really knocked his confidence. This school year ****’s mental health has been affected massively by his lack of self-esteem, lack of confidence and self-belief. It became so bad his attendance was been affected. This program gave **** a focus and something he looked forward to every week. It gave him the boost he so desperately needed. **** was able build his skills and confidence outside of the classroom which he loved.

*** really loved the classes. He said it helped him to learn skills he can use around the house and he found it really interesting. He would very pleased to take more classes.

The sessions were amazing and funny, it was a good experience.

I Believe that the sessions were amazing. I learned various techniques for carving and how to use drills and saws.

Fun opportunity to use new tools and learn crafting

Great and fun learning experience, learnt how to use tool and what work would be like.