By Philip Welch

Somerset's biggest school has formed a partnership with the county's biggest industrial development.

The Blue School will work with Severfield, the UK's leading steel construction experts who are helping to build the £4 billion Agratas battery gigafactory near Bridgwater. It will be the largest such factory in the UK.

Severfield has adopted the school as part of the award-winning Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) Learning Programme for young people aged five-18, which focuses on project-based learning to develop skills in architecture, engineering, and sustainability through practical, hands-on experience and industry software. 

 Severfield's involvement will include direct engagement from Agratas team members and through the DEC programme, students will gain: 

• Structured classroom support

• Site visits to a live, nationally significant project

• Work placement opportunities

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"It is a real privilege for The Blue School to be selected to adopt the DEC learning programme alongside the Agratas project," said headteacher Mark Woodlock,

"The school highly values the importance of Design Technology, has a very strong reputation for its work in this area and this opportunity to work directly with employers will make a significant difference to the learning of our students. 

"In particular, embedding this landmark Somerset project in a school that aims directly to serve the families in and around Wells is a major boost to the local area.  By working together, we'll support more of our young people to play a significant role in engineering, manufacturing and construction in the local community."

The Adopt a School scheme, created by social enterprise Class Of Your Own, enables the construction industry to form meaningful, long-term relationships with the schools and grow its own future talent pipeline.

Through this scheme, Severfield, Agratas' construction delivery contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and the wider Agratas site teams will support the DEC programme at The Blue School through a structured and sustained programme of engagement, tailored to the needs of students and teaching staff.

Severfield has successfully completed a major phase of work at the Agratas battery factory in February, with the steel frame pictured here now erected for the first principal building on site.