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Pupils at Rosehill High School in Wallyford, East Lothian, have gained practical DIY knowledge thanks to a masterclass session hosted by housebuilder Barratt Homes East Scotland.
The event saw 20 S1 pupils participate in hands-on activities led by members of the Barratt Homes construction team.
The initiative was prompted by recent insights, such as those from Halfords, suggesting that younger generations like Gen Z often lack basic household DIY skills and tend to pay for external help rather than tackling tasks themselves. Addressing this, the masterclass focused on essential household and gardening skills, including how to change lightbulbs, use a spirit level, understand basic pipework, attempt bricklaying, and properly sand, prep, paint, and prime surfaces. The session concluded with a Q&A, allowing pupils interested in construction careers to engage with the Barratt Homes team.
Barratt Homes is currently developing properties at the nearby St Clements Brae in Wallyford, and Rosehill High School is a local catchment school for this development.
Ross Thomson, Curriculum Leader for Science and Technology at Rosehill High School, praised the initiative: "What a great experience Barratt Homes provided for our S1 pupils. Linking in with employers always provides a rich learning experience for pupils in a practical context. There was a great buzz around the session and our Rosehill S1 pupils did themselves proud. A huge thanks to the Barratt Homes team that visited us on the day who delivered such a good session."
Alan Lyall, Construction Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, commented: "As a business, we'd like to extend our thanks to Rosehill High School for allowing us to trial our masterclass at the school. The feedback we have received from teachers, pupils and our own team has been very positive, and we hope the skills learned can be carried with the pupils throughout their lives – saving them money in the process!"
Lyall added, "Wherever it can, Barratt looks to support the communities in which it builds and investing in schools is just one way the company is honouring this commitment. We look forward to rolling these sessions out further at other schools across the country."
Homes at Barratt Homes East Scotland's St Clements Brae development in Wallyford start from £269,995 for three and four-bedroom properties. East Lothian Pupils Get Hands-On with DIY Skills in Barratt Homes Masterclass
WALLYFORD, EAST LOTHIAN – S1 pupils at Rosehill High School in Wallyford have gained practical DIY knowledge thanks to a masterclass session hosted by housebuilder Barratt Homes East Scotland. The initiative aimed to equip the young students with essential household skills.
Barratt Homes, which is currently developing new properties at the nearby St Clements Brae site, brought members of its construction team to the school to lead the interactive session for 20 S1 pupils. The masterclass was organised in response to recent insights, such as those from Halfords, suggesting that younger generations, like Gen Z, may be less familiar with basic DIY tasks and often resort to paying for external help.
With this in mind, the session focused on a range of common household and gardening tasks. Pupils learned how to change lightbulbs, effectively use a spirit level, understand basic pipework, and try their hand at bricklaying. They also received instruction on how to properly sand, prepare, paint, and prime surfaces. The masterclass concluded with a Q&A session, allowing students interested in a career in construction to engage directly with the Barratt Homes team.
Ross Thomson, Curriculum Leader for Science and Technology at Rosehill High School, praised the initiative: "What a great experience Barratt Homes provided for our S1 pupils. Linking in with employers always provides a rich learning experience for pupils in a practical context. There was a great buzz around the session and our Rosehill S1 pupils did themselves proud. A huge thanks to the Barratt Homes team that visited us on the day who delivered such a good session."
Alan Lyall, Construction Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, also commented on the success of the event: "As a business, we'd like to extend our thanks to Rosehill High School for allowing us to trial our masterclass at the school. The feedback we have received from teachers, pupils and our own team has been very positive, and we hope the skills learned can be carried with the pupils throughout their lives – saving them money in the process!"
Lyall added: "Wherever it can, Barratt looks to support the communities in which it builds and investing in schools is just one way the company is honouring this commitment. We look forward to rolling these sessions out further at other schools across the country."
Rosehill High School is a local catchment school for Barratt Homes East Scotland's St Clements development in Wallyford, which includes the St Clements Brae site offering three and four-bedroom homes.
