Last week, the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) came into school to run STEM workshops for Year 7 and 8 students over two days.
EDT is a UK education charity that provides opportunities for young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
As part of its ‘First Edition’ programme, the organisation delivers over 40,000 STEM experiences each year, for young people aged 9 to 21, with the aim of enhancing the curriculum and building STEM careers awareness.
The programme includes hands-on activity days, which are designed to excite and enlighten young people on how STEM is fun and interesting, and can lead to rewarding careers.
In the workshops held at Bridgnorth Endowed, students were asked to design, build and test model rollercoasters and trebuchets, to investigate real-world applications of the science, technology, engineering and maths behind the tasks.
The practical team-based activities are specifically developed to encourage creativity and innovation through extensive problem-solving and teamwork.
During the sessions, EDT also gave talks on careers and study routes, and students received an Industrial Cadet Award for taking part in the challenges.
Poppy Wakefield from Year 8 reports: “The day was great fun, the people who came in were really nice and I enjoyed the teamwork and activities.”
Year 7 student, Charlie Phillips, adds: “It was an exciting day, everyone got involved with the activities and were thinking about ideas.”
Careers Lead, Mrs Mitchell, concludes: “The First Edition STEM days were superb. The pupils learnt a lot and really enjoyed the hands-on challenges. Some even said they’d seriously consider a career in this area.”
More information about the programme can be found on the EDT website →
