Education meets construction as Herne Bay pupils tour new homes project

Pupils from Herne Bay Junior School swapped the classroom for the construction site in a special visit to Rosewood hosted by sustainable homebuilders, Stonebond and Orbit Homes.

The event highlighted the importance of site safety through an interactive presentation with construction colleagues, a guided tour of the site, and a series of hands‑on activities including pupils building a 3D model house.

Herne Bay Junior School pupils, aged from 7 to 11, were encouraged to learn from industry experts and spark their curiosity during the visit, with students given a real sense of the different stages involved in building a new home and how a development comes together. The event aligned with Orbit Homes’ free ‘Building Buddies’ educational programme.

After the children put their new construction knowledge to the test with the 3D model house activity, Stonebond and Orbit Homes gifted the pupils goodie bags featuring fun keepsakes for them to remember the day by.

Stonebond and Orbit Homes are working in partnership to deliver a total of 178 new homes at the development located off Bullockstone Road in Herne Bay. Homes are offered across a range of tenures, including 100 affordable homes from Orbit Homes for Shared Ownership, affordable rent and Rent to Buy. 

Nick Foreman, Site Operations Manager at Herne Bay Junior School comments: “During our visit, the children learned valuable lessons about health and safety and how new homes are built, embracing the chance to look at the construction process with fresh eyes and to think carefully about the steps taken to ensure Herne Bay’s new homes are built safely and securely. We are always looking for ways to inspire our pupils’ bright young minds, so we jumped at the chance to connect with Stonebond and Orbit Homes for this memorable visit to Rosewood.”

Ray Winney, National Build Director at Orbit Homes, said: “We were delighted to work alongside our partners Stonebond to arrange a special visit for the pupils of Herne Bay Junior School as part of our ‘Building Buddies’ programme. Rosewood is delivering much needed affordable housing for the local area, and this was a unique opportunity for the pupils to see a busy construction site in action. It was amazing to see the children try some fun activities that showed just how exciting the range of careers available in housebuilding can be.”

Leanne Mackenzie, Head of Sales & Marketing at Stonebond, said: “We were so pleased to welcome pupils and teachers from Herne Bay Junior School to Rosewood, and to show them the expertise and precise safety measures that go into creating high‑quality homes in a fun and interactive way. Supporting the communities where we build is incredibly important to us, and helping to inspire the next generation to consider a future in housebuilding is a key part of that commitment.”

Situated in the coastal town of Herne Bay in Kent, Rosewood comprises a selection of mixed-tenure two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four‑bedroom houses. Designed with light‑filled interiors, spacious living areas and modern finishes, these homes provide a comfortable, contemporary living experience, with open‑plan layouts ideal for relaxing or entertaining. 

For further information on the homes available at Rosewood, please visit https://www.stonebondproperties.com and www.orbithomes.org.uk/orbit-homes-at-rosewood  

Building Buddies also offers free classroom resources, including Maths and English activities linked to day-to-day construction jobs, which are available at www.orbithomes.org.uk/about-orbit/building-buddies. To book a Building Buddies visit or for more information, contact: building.buddies@orbit.org.uk.

Picture caption: Pupils from Herne Bay Junior School at their Building Buddies visit to Rosewood in Herne Bay, Kent.