Rotorua Boys' High School have shown their award winning form once again – this time in the building industry.

The school was crowned national 1^st XV champions yesterday, and has now been named Supreme Winner of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation Build-Ability Challenge, winning all three of the national awards, including the People's Choice award and Best Video.

Rotorua Boy's High School students Bruce Mabagos (left) Tarzan Smith and Tiaki-Toa Harrison in front of their award winning playhouse. Photos: Supplied.

Some 24 schools went head-to-head in the contest. The teams not only had to design and build a playhouse to be gifted to a local community group, but also had to maintain a video diary and blog about their progress throughout the challenge at: www.buildability.co.nz

Rotorua Boys' High School built a castle-themed playhouse for Kidz Rock Early Learning Centre. The castle won over the judges and was a crowd favourite in the People's Choice category.

The school also embraced the technology aspect of the competition, successfully documenting their progress, and took out the Best Video Award.

School principal Chris Grinter says he was proud of the effort put in by the students. 'We try and diversify our curriculum so that we provide opportunity for boys to build qualifications and keep them engaged in school longer,” says Chris.

'In a school where sport is strong, you work hard to make sure that there's a balance and that the academic and the cultural sides of life skills are similarly promoted.”

The judges were extremely impressed with the quality of all of the projects this year, particularly the winning entry says Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation marketing manager Andrew Robinson.

'Rotorua Boys' High School ticked all the boxes in the 2015 challenge,” says Andrew. 'We were blown away by their project. Not only were research, design and build executed impeccably, but the story of their journey was clear for all to see on their blog.

'Their use of video and technology to present their story was very well done, and this was an important element of the challenge given the high rate of technology adoption in the construction sector today.

'Although Build-Ability is a competition, the real purpose behind the challenge is to get young people working together, whilst generating interest in the construction industry.”

Rotorua Boys' High School has been awarded a $1,000 voucher for their Technology Department, a GoPro camera for the school and individual prize packs for each team member. They were also awarded a 'team shout” to the value of $300.