Students Get Ahead in Engineering with the Smallpeice Trust
Seventy 13/14 year olds from schools in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region recently attended a specially designed Engineering Experience residential course at the University of Portsmouth as part of the Get ahead with STEM! programme to encourage them to take up careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, August 13, 2010 --(PR.com)-- From 27th to 30th July, seventy up-and-coming 13/14 year olds from schools in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region gathered at the University of Portsmouth, to attend a specially designed Engineering Experience residential course. This free course forms part of a major initiative funded by the Department for Education, called Get ahead with STEM! to encourage ‘hard to reach’ students and especially girls to take up careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
In partnership with STEMNET and the WISE Campaign, students attended the course as a reward for their performance in a series of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) days carried out by The Smallpeice Trust in partnership with STEMNET and the WISE campaign which ran from April to June this year in schools in and around South Hants.
Over the four days, the pupils had the opportunity to learn about engineering through a series of presentations and practical exercises. Working in teams, they tackled ‘real-life’ challenges on projects designed and facilitated by young engineers from industry. These organisations included Jaguar Landrover, Jackson Civil, The Royal Navy and BAE Systems and the projects included two design and make boat projects, and a bridge and car project. As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation.
Kevin O’Neill, Senior Education Officer for the Get Ahead With STEM project commented, “Without opportunities like these, many of these students may never have been able to experience university life and get a worthwhile insight into the fascinating world of engineering. The Get Ahead with STEM programme seeks to encourage young people from all backgrounds, and particularly girls to do great things using engineering skills and help turn creative ideas into reality.”
Terry Marsh commented “WISE is delighted that the Smallpeice Trust is having such a success with its important new initiative Get Ahead With STEM. So many young people have no real understanding of the sort of jobs that are needed for the future, and this project is just what is needed to open their minds to their future potential, and the minds of their teachers as well.”
For further information about The Smallpeice Trust and it’s involvement in the Get Ahead With STEM! project contact Kevin O’Neill on: 01926 333200 or email kevinon@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
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Notes to editors:
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 10 to 18.
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”
The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies.
This year, the Smallpeice Trust will reach out to over 15,630 young people through over 30 different subsidised 4-day residential courses and 1-day in-school curriculum enrichment activities, offering training in all aspects of Engineering.
A strong interface is maintained with industry, education and professional bodies that help to support, promote and develop the courses. Through these relationships the Trust is also able to provide a number of tailored or specialised courses.
All courses are affiliated to the Royal Academy of Engineering Best Programme and are approved by the Learning Grid quality standard which provides independent assurance that a particular activity will be fit for its stated purpose and offers a benchmark that the activity meets the needs of industry, teachers and individual participants.
For more information about the Smallpeice Trust and the training they provide, please visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk.
In partnership with STEMNET and the WISE Campaign, students attended the course as a reward for their performance in a series of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) days carried out by The Smallpeice Trust in partnership with STEMNET and the WISE campaign which ran from April to June this year in schools in and around South Hants.
Over the four days, the pupils had the opportunity to learn about engineering through a series of presentations and practical exercises. Working in teams, they tackled ‘real-life’ challenges on projects designed and facilitated by young engineers from industry. These organisations included Jaguar Landrover, Jackson Civil, The Royal Navy and BAE Systems and the projects included two design and make boat projects, and a bridge and car project. As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation.
Kevin O’Neill, Senior Education Officer for the Get Ahead With STEM project commented, “Without opportunities like these, many of these students may never have been able to experience university life and get a worthwhile insight into the fascinating world of engineering. The Get Ahead with STEM programme seeks to encourage young people from all backgrounds, and particularly girls to do great things using engineering skills and help turn creative ideas into reality.”
Terry Marsh commented “WISE is delighted that the Smallpeice Trust is having such a success with its important new initiative Get Ahead With STEM. So many young people have no real understanding of the sort of jobs that are needed for the future, and this project is just what is needed to open their minds to their future potential, and the minds of their teachers as well.”
For further information about The Smallpeice Trust and it’s involvement in the Get Ahead With STEM! project contact Kevin O’Neill on: 01926 333200 or email kevinon@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
###
Notes to editors:
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 10 to 18.
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”
The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies.
This year, the Smallpeice Trust will reach out to over 15,630 young people through over 30 different subsidised 4-day residential courses and 1-day in-school curriculum enrichment activities, offering training in all aspects of Engineering.
A strong interface is maintained with industry, education and professional bodies that help to support, promote and develop the courses. Through these relationships the Trust is also able to provide a number of tailored or specialised courses.
All courses are affiliated to the Royal Academy of Engineering Best Programme and are approved by the Learning Grid quality standard which provides independent assurance that a particular activity will be fit for its stated purpose and offers a benchmark that the activity meets the needs of industry, teachers and individual participants.
For more information about the Smallpeice Trust and the training they provide, please visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk.
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
01926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
or contact:
Claire Ford
01926 333203
clairef@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Gemma Murphy
01926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
or contact:
Claire Ford
01926 333203
clairef@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
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