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News

STEM mentors can develop new opportunities

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8th November 2019

- News

The Express & Star STEM Challenge sees schools and businesses work together on projects, all with the aim of making a positive impact on the community around them. It is aimed at boosting student engagement. Showing them that what they learn in the classroom can be used in the world of work.

Earlier this year, executives from Petford Group, based in Dudley, worked with students to create a range of games for blind and partially sighted people. One hundred of those are now being used at the Beacon Centre for the Blind. 

Petford Group has been taking part in the STEM Challenge for the last two years and has been successful each time, mentoring students at two different schools. Students also had a rare opportunity to step into a manufacturing environment, which they would not usually get a chance to do that while they are at school.


Kira Edwards, sales and business manager at Petford Group, said she felt inspired by the students she mentored. “It is a great experience and I would recommend anyone to get involved in it,” she said. 

“At the beginning, you worry about how you are going to fit the mentoring into your already busy day. But seeing the students so committed and staying after school hours, even after their GCSEs studies, inspired us. We thought if they can do it, so can we.”

The brief required to design a product that has a positive impact on people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. 


“We kept pushing the kids to take the challenge that one step further,” said Kira. To get an understanding of a struggle some face on a day to day basis, Petford Group mentors arranged to call local charities like Beacon Centre for the Blind and the mental health charity MIND. “At the charities, children heard about the struggles some people face every day,” Kira added.

It was also great to hear some feedback from the students themselves. One pupil who took part said: “I think it is amazing that people will be playing something that we designed. It is great to think we have made an impact. ” There is a possibility that their Connect 4 product could be put into production and go on the market. 

Girls and woman are beginning to close the STEM gender gap thanks to inspiration from strong female role models. “At the second year’s registration stage we saw that 70% of applicants were female,” said Kira. “If more business got involved in events like the Express & Star STEM Challenge it would definitely change the industry and create more job opportunities for the next generation – it’s time for mentors to step up and help close the skill gap.”

For information on how to become a mentor get in touch with Darren Griffin, corporate manager at the Express & Star, on 01902 314439 or email darren.griffin@expressandstar.co.uk

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Events

Young engineers of the future take part in Shropshire STEM Challenge

By on

4th October 2019

- Events

Students showed off their potential as engineers of the future at the 2019 STEM Challenge.
 
The Shropshire Star competition, involving teams from nine primary schools, tasked pupils with coming up with a wildlife centre which would be open to visitors all year round, and creating a model to show how their creation would work.
 
They were given the day to come up with the design in a challenge intended to test their skills under pressure, including budgeting and ‘purchasing’ the materials required from a ‘shop’ set up for the competition.
 
The overall competition was won John Randall Primary School from Telford, with judges saying that the six-pupil team had “thought of everything” with their design.
 
Stephanie Dowley, the headteacher at the school, said they were thrilled at the pupils’ achievement. 
 
She said: “We are incredibly proud of them. The teacher that accompanied them said they understood the brief very quickly and used problem solving skills to understand what was required and wasn’t required. We are all so proud of them for what they have done.”
 
Ms Dowley explained that STEM skills form a key part of the learning at the school as they prepare their pupils for the future.
 
She said: “We have been working with a STEM specialist for about a year now as we recognise the importance of science and design and we know our children will be doing jobs that have not even been invented yet, so we want them to have the clear analytical skills and scientific thinking they will need to succeed.”
 
There were a number of other awards handed out on the day with Apley Wood Primary School taking the prize for best planning, and Lawley Primary School recognised for best problem solving.
 
The award for best teamwork was taken by Radbrook Primary School, with the best design category being claimed by Hadley Learning Community Primary.
 
Other schools taking part on the day were Donnington Wood, Our Lady & St Oswald’s, Stoke-on-Tern, and Wrockwardine Wood Junior School.
 
Martin Wright, editor in chief of the Shropshire Star, praised the efforts of the pupils competing in the challenge, and thanked the sponsors who enabled it to take place.
 
He said: “It is fantastic to see the enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and maths. 
 
“The talent of the young people was obvious to everyone and they really embraced the brief that was set to design a wildlife centre. 
 
“Inspiring the future generations of engineers is critical to this country’s future and we are delighted to very hopefully play a small part in this.
 
“I would also like to thank the sponsors and our mentors for giving us the support to help this happen.”
 
The event was sponsored by Telford & Wrekin Council, biT, and apT.
 
7 Video also filmed at the event for a film that will be featured on the Shropshire Star website and social media channels in the near future.
 
Key to the event was the support of Northwood Hygiene Products, which provided some of the materials used by the children in their designs.
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