PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ENGAGE IN COLLEGE-BASED STEM ACTIVITIES
School children, aged between 8-10 years old, from Hinton St. George Primary School had their first insight into STEM-based activities and careers during a visit to Yeovil College for a day of fun-filled day of STEM engagement and learning.
On Wednesday 22nd February, school children visited Yeovil College where they discovered career opportunities within the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths, they also toured Yeovil College and their UK-leading Institute of Technology (IoT) facilities before undertaking a range of focused engineering challenges. They explored many areas of the college, particularly within the new £3 million Health, Education and Science Centre, the Lynx Helicopter, wind tunnel and 3D printing within Engineering, Construction workshops, IT and Cyber Security and Hospitality and Catering provisions.
The concept of STEM learning is to combine science, technology, engineering and maths to create something that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Combining these subjects together can help pupils understand how the subjects they study can be applied in real life. Yeovil College and South Somerset District Council believe that it is critical for primary schools to understand STEM activities as it enhances the children’s learning in these important subjects.
Mark Bolton, Principal & CEO of Yeovil College, said: “STEM-based careers play an extremely important role within our local economy, and we have an equally key part to play in inspiring the next generation of STEM specialists.
“We have invested a significant amount of capital, resources and energy into developing the very best UK-leading, STEM-based facilities to change the educational landscape in South Somerset and North and West Dorset, and we want to raise aspirations towards these subjects from a young age.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with SSDC and SDF in raising the profile of careers within STEM areas by working creatively and innovatively with local primary school children and their teachers.”
At a local level, South Somerset has a higher-than-average amount of people working within STEM based professions. This is largely driven through the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector which makes up 19% of the workforce, employing 13,000 individuals. In order to preserve this sector’s strength, Yeovil College has a role to play in providing industry insight and aspiration raising activity to students within South Somerset.
Hinton St George Primary School’s visit is the first of several school events taking place over the coming month, with a particular focus around British Science Week, 13th- 17th March 2023.