St Patrick’s Technical College has opened its doors this week to local primary school children to give them a real trade experience.

With the College’s Year 11 and 12 students finished for the year, more than 260 Year 6 and 7 students from five primary schools in Playford and Gawler were able to get their hands dirty in the College’s state-of-the-art workshops during Try-a-Trade days.

The visiting students were able to experience some of the hands-on learning offered by StPatsTech. They made wooden tea light candle holders in the Building and Construction workshop; built mini biscuit houses in the Food and Hospitality kitchen; learned some basic automotive skills in the mechanical workshop; made their own electric conductivity tester in the Electrotechnology workshop; and learnt about gear ratios by building LEGO Technic Power Car in the science lab.

College Principal Danny Deptula said the visiting students were only a few years off making decisions about career pathways.

“We want to ensure vocational education pathways are given the same consideration and weight by families and students as a tertiary pathway,’’ Mr Deptula said.

“By opening our fantastic, $15 million purpose-built facility to local primary school students, we hope it opens their eyes to a whole slew of possible careers through vocational education.

“We were very pleased to host the students and welcome any other schools who would like to give their students some hands-on learning opportunities.’’

Among the schools visiting StPatsTech are St Brigid’s Catholic School, St Mary Magdalene’s School, St Thomas More School, Blakeview Primary School and Hewett Primary School.