Around 90 pupils and 16 teachers from 12 Moray primary schools attended an event on Thursday 14 March in Moray College UHI to celebrate the success of Transport Scotland’s schools engagement programme on the A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme.
 
The event let local school children present their projects to a judging panel from Transport Scotland and its design consultancy Mott MacDonald Sweco (MMS). 
 
In the second year of the programme, training has been delivered by specialist educational supplier Primary Engineer to over 75 primary and 20 secondary school teachers. Engineers from MMS have assisted with presentations, Q&A sessions and class projects.

Michael Matheson Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity said:
 
“As well as upgrading the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen to dual carriageway, this Government recognises the importance of benefitting the communities who live along the route as we design and build the new road.
 
“Our schools engagement on our major road projects, including the A96 dualling programme is leaving a legacy for the future, training teachers to deliver a programme for pupils in local schools which helps them develop an interest in engineering.

“This is the second year of engagement with schools situated along the Hardmuir to Fochabers stretch of the A96. At the event at Moray College, engineers from Transport Scotland and the consultants designing the road took the time to offer their expertise which will help inspire the children to consider being the engineers of the future.”

Chris Rochester, UK director at Primary Engineer said:

“The support provided by Transport Scotland and MMS allowed us to bring Primary Engineer programmes to schools in Moray to inspire pupils and teachers with engineering. This fun and exciting event demonstrates how creative pupils can be by bringing engineering to life using the skills they have acquired."
 
Transport Scotland and MMS teamed up with Primary Engineer, a not for profit organisation which has national programmes that enable teachers to embed engineering into their curriculum teaching curriculum. The organisation works with schools and professional engineers around the UK to give pupils the opportunity to work on projects to gain a new perspective on careers in the profession – highlighting just how important engineering is to the world in which we all live.