Geography students gain insight into quarrying industry

Tarmac’s Tunstead site in Buxton, county Derbyshire, England recently hosted its largest school visit to date, when over 100 students from Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School in Grantham, county Lincolnshire, came to visit its operations. The sustainable construction solutions company gave year 10 students, who were studying for their Geography GCSE, the chance to learn more about geology, land use and minerals to assist with their studies and coursework. The pupils were able to watch a quarry blast and
August 5, 2016
Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School pupils
Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School pupils learn about quarrying during their visit to Tarmac’s Tunstead site

868 Tarmac’s Tunstead site in Buxton, county Derbyshire, England recently hosted its largest school visit to date, when over 100 students from Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School in Grantham, county Lincolnshire, came to visit its operations.

The sustainable construction solutions company gave year 10 students, who were studying for their Geography GCSE, the chance to learn more about geology, land use and minerals to assist with their studies and coursework. The pupils were able to watch a quarry blast and then see the limestone being transported from the quarry face.

Viv Russell, lime and powders director at Tarmac, said: “This was a major visit and involved quite a bit of co-ordination between teachers and our quarry staff. We feel it is really important to give young people a better understanding of what we do here, whilst providing a valuable real life experience that is directly relevant to their studies.”

David Scott, head teacher at Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, said: “This was a great opportunity for the pupils to gain an insight into the quarrying, cement and lime industries and learn valuable information relevant to their geography GCSE. We would like to thank Tarmac at Tunstead for giving us the opportunity to visit and providing such an interesting tour.”

As well as being shown round the quarry itself, the students were given a presentation to learn about the products made from the materials and their importance to the local economy. Also covered was the history of the quarrying industry in the Buxton area, as well as the benefits to the local community and the company’s contribution to sustainability and local ecology, through biodiversity, conservation and restoration.

Tunstead facilitates numerous school and university visits throughout the year, operated by experienced guides from the site.

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