Pupils Harness Wind Power with the Smallpeice Trust at Kirklees College, Huddersfield

Huddersfield, United Kingdom, March 20, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Students from the West Yorkshire schools of Almondbury High, Castle Hall and Holmfirm High put their science, technology, engineering and maths skills to the test in a one-day Wind Turbine challenge supported by Tomorrow’s Engineers and delivered by educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust. The venue for the day was the prestigious conferencing facilities at Kirklees College in Huddersfield.

Working in small groups, the event was designed to enhance students’ aptitude for lateral thinking, design and engineering and was especially geared to complement to the National Curriculum.

As part of this initiative, students put their design, technology, engineering and maths talents to the test in a unique one-day Wind Turbine challenge. The 13 and 14 year old students were tasked with designing and constructing a wind turbine to produce the greatest amount of electricity. The turbine had to be free-standing and structurally robust to support heavy components and moving parts. Students were required to hold a business meeting with ‘investors’ where they presented their idea and requested funding. The STEM Day was designed to enhance their understanding of engineering with the winning teams being judged on aesthetics, cost effectiveness, power generated, team-working and stability.

STEM Ambassadors also supported the session at the College. David Wilkinson, Director of the STEM Ambassador Programme in West Yorkshire said, “We were delighted to support this amazing opportunity. It has encouraged pupils from schools within our region to connect what they learn inside the classroom with what actually happens in the working environment. By participating in this event, we believe that many students will have been inspired to push themselves harder in STEM subjects to achieve their future goals.”

Education Associate for The Smallpeice Trust, Paul Davies commented, “We are most grateful to Tomorrow’s Engineers for supporting these inspirational events. A gust of energy has swept through this school today as the students designed, built, marketed and tested their wind turbines. It is always very encouraging to see just how much students get from taking part in a STEM Day and we hope these students will now be inspired to consider engineering as a viable future career.”

Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, added: “By the time today’s school pupils are of working age, the UK is going to need over 1.8 million new engineers to meet industry demands. Working together with the wider engineering community, Tomorrow’s Engineers has established a reputation for inspiring pupils and their teachers about the opportunities offered by engineering. A recent survey showed the positive impact of the programme on teachers and young people alike, with more of them understanding what engineering is all about and showing an interest in a career in it. I’m hoping these young engineers will be similarly inspired.”

The STEM Day was run by the independent educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust, as part of an ongoing programme of courses designed to help young people learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. The STEM Day was supported by Tomorrow’s Engineers (www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk) which aims to increase the number of young people - particularly young women - studying physics and maths, leaving their options open for a range of careers, including engineering.

Notes to Editors

About The Smallpeice Trust:

The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering, and wider STEM disciplines, as a career, through the provision of in-school STEM Days and STEM Clubs for students aged 11 to 14, and residential courses at leading universities around the UK for students aged 12 to 18.

Over the past year, The Trust has engaged with a record-breaking 21,564 young people through the in-house delivery of 40 different subsidised residential courses, in-school STEM Days and starting up STEM Clubs. The Trust has also trained 630 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.

About Tomorrow’s Engineers:

Tomorrow’s Engineers sees the engineering community working in partnership to develop a national network that brings together employers and schools to inspire the next generation of engineers and address the skills shortage.

In addition to this schools engagement programme, Tomorrow’s Engineers provides a one-stop shop for information and resources about the amazing careers available in engineering.

Tomorrow’s Engineers is a programme of schools engagement, underpinned by inspiring careers information, website and resources, demonstrating the exciting range of engineering careers available and detailing the routes into engineering. Delivered in partnership with employers, charities and professional bodies, Tomorrow’s Engineers aims to increase the number of young people - particularly young women - studying physics and maths, leaving their options open for a range of careers, including engineering.

The Tomorrow’s Engineers programme is managed by EngineeringUK, in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, STEMNET, Professional Engineering Institutions, key delivery partners and businesses.

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