A TEAM of engineers visited pupils in Cwmbran to increase their knowledge of engineering.

The engineers from the A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2 project visited Henllys Church of Wales School in Cwmbran as part of an extended programme of learning.

The Section 2 of the A465 Heads of the Valleys project between Gilwern and Brynmawr will be the fourth of six phases and comprises an 8.1km section of road.

Design project manager, Paul Sandford, along with Nathan Duke, both from engineering company CH2M, and Brian Greaves, from construction company Costain, visited the school on May 22 to talk to the year four class about the construction project.

The engineers then set the children tasks related to a number of disciplines associated with the project.

The specially designed programme includes six weekly visits by qualified members of the team to talk about their specialism including planning, cultural heritage, environmental, bridge design, road design, safety and construction.

The children will also be invited on a site visit at the end of the programme.

The school’s headteacher, Mark Durbin, said: “It is an outstanding opportunity for our Year 4 pupils to be extensively involved in a major local construction project that will have far reaching consequences for our area.”

The programme will culminate in the children designing a section of the site hoarding demonstrating what they have learned which will be displayed at the new project compound for the duration of the works.

Mr Sandford added: “We were pleased to support the school and hopefully our efforts will raise the awareness of all the pupils about the complexities and issues that need to be considered when designing, managing and constructing a major road project.

“It may also inspire a few potential engineers for the future.”