THE playground at Edinbarnet Primary School has been “brought to life” by students at West College Scotland.

BAE Systems apprentices put their skills to good use last week as they refurbished the outdoor play area at the school and created an environment where pupils can learn while having fun.

A group of 18 first-year apprentices, aged between 16 and 27, took on the challenge of overhauling the playground within the week by tidying up overgrown grass, building huts and painting.

For apprentice Gary Smith it was a return to his old primary school and he said the whole experience had given him a “new lease of life”.

He said: “I went to this school, so it’s good to help get the playground up to the standard it should be.

“I was in primary five when this all got done and that’s it all getting refurbished now. From where it was then to now, it’s looking a lot better.

“They have got lots of learning games now for the kids. It’s all maths and language games. It’s good for them.

“It’s given me confidence. It’s given me a new lease of life and an opportunity.

“I was working in a factory in Clydebank and I got made redundant so there was no work, but I love this.

“I’m getting to do what I always wanted to do, working with tools.”

Charlie Murphy, BAE Systems’ apprentice and skills training manager, said the project was a chance to both help the school and encourage the students to feel better about themselves.

He said: “We wanted to give something back to the community we are working around about.

“It has transformed. The place was a jungle, but they have cleared all that and put in soil. We have painted and planted some stuff to give it a wee bit of colour.

“What we are trying to do is help them feel good about themselves. It’s not just about learning how to do something but it’s about being a better person.

“The kids will see the difference they have made. It’s so they realise there’s more to life than what they are doing. They’re giving something back.

“We haven’t got a future if we don’t have apprentices. We have to grow our own.

“It gives opportunities for kids to come through and gives them a purpose. It’s one of the best ways to learn and make a living.”

Meanwhile, John Paton, the principal teacher of Edinbarnet Primary, said the work the apprentices were doing was “essential”.

He said: “You’ve got skilled tradesmen with them, so you know it’s getting done safely and securely.

“It brings a bland playground to life. The kids get more opportunities to learn through play in a variety of different areas.”

The apprentices are also set to return to the school to talk to children about the skills they use at work.

Mr Paton continued: “We are going to bring the apprentices back in to meet the children.

“The upper school children will talk to the apprentices about STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

“The skills they have used to put all this together, they will learn why it’s essential to have them.”