diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index b0e6f72279..a78fbbc1aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - 'main'
+      - 'nc-prepare-ci-for-rails-8'
   pull_request:
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
 
@@ -70,8 +71,28 @@ jobs:
           --health-retries 5
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/setup
+      - name: Setup the environment
+        run: cp .sample.env .env
+      - run: cp spec/example_app/config/database.yml.sample spec/example_app/config/database.yml
+      - name: Prepare main database schema
+        run: bin/generate-database-schema
+      - name: Set up Ruby ${{ matrix.ruby }}
+        uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
         with:
           ruby-version: ${{ matrix.ruby }}
-      - name: Appraise Rails ${{ matrix.appraisal }}
-        run: bundle exec appraisal ${{ matrix.appraisal }} rspec
+      - name: Set up JS
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          cache: yarn
+      - name: Install Ruby dependencies
+        run: bundle install
+        env:
+          BUNDLE_GEMFILE: gemfiles/${{ matrix.appraisal }}.gemfile
+      - name: Install JS dependencies
+        run: yarn install
+      - name: Build assets
+        run: yarn run build && yarn run build:css
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: bundle exec rspec
+        env:
+          BUNDLE_GEMFILE: gemfiles/${{ matrix.appraisal }}.gemfile
diff --git a/bin/generate-database-schema b/bin/generate-database-schema
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..386d479460
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/generate-database-schema
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+set -e
+
+run_in_container() {
+	container_id=$1
+	shift
+	cmd=$*
+
+	docker exec --workdir /app "$container_id" bash -c "$cmd"
+}
+
+owner=$(whoami)
+# get ruby version from .ruby-version
+ruby_version="3.2.2"
+
+echo "Starting container using Ruby $ruby_version..."
+container_id=$(docker run  --network="host" --env PGHOST --env PGUSER --env PGPASSWORD -d -v .:/app ruby:3.2.2 sleep infinity)
+
+echo "Check the environment is correct..."
+run_in_container "$container_id" "env"
+
+echo "Run bundle install..."
+run_in_container "$container_id" "bundle install"
+
+echo "Running db:setup..."
+run_in_container "$container_id" "bundle exec rake db:setup"
+
+echo "Tidying up container..."
+docker stop "$container_id" > /dev/null
+docker rm "$container_id" > /dev/null
+
+echo "Restoring file permissions..."
+sudo chown -R "$owner" .