TWO students at Lakes School are building models of the first sea plane to land on Windermere.

Waterbird enthusiast Roger Mallinson said he wanted to give young people life skills to use when they left school.

He is working with pupils Robin Amor-Train and Patrick Hopwood, who are both making a 36-inch span model of the plane.

The youngsters came forward after Mr Mallinson approached the school with the idea last year.

“I was quite dismayed at the way that young kids are coming out of school unemployable,” he said. “They’re not coming out with the skills that are required.”

Mr Mallinson came up with the idea to mark the centenary of Waterbird’s maiden flight.

“The pupils are getting design skills, they’re using their hands, cutting, making, shaping and assembling the plane, which is not from a kit — it is from raw materials.

“They’re getting a hell of a lot out of it.

A celebration of the 100-year anniverary since Waterbird first took off will take place at the Storrs Hall Hotel on November 25, when Mr Mallinson is hoping to fly his own Waterbird and display the two created by the pupils.

“They’ve really excelled themselves and they’re over the moon with what they’ve done — and so am I.”