STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths)

2008  /  2007  /  2006

2008

'Minimal Mouse' Electronics for Girls Project
Twynham School : 27th June 2008

The 'Minimal Mouse' project competition for schools, is designed to introduce students to electronics and robotics, in the case of Twynham School, to encourage girls to consider a subject they may previously ignored. The project aim is to build a small mobile robot that can follow an aluminium tape circuit of any shape on a black paper surface. The students were taught how to solder the electronic components provided in a standard kit format, which can be modified, to construct their robot.

Once constructed, and fitted with sensors, the "Mice" were programmed to follow the aluminium tape until they reach the centre of maze. Mice are timed as they navigate from a corner of the maze to the centre. The fastest mouse wins the contest. The project was designed to be fun, but at the same time provide an insight into how electronics can be used to design a robot. The activity proved to be very successful and 13 pupils took part, from just 23% expressing an interest in studying electronics/robotics at HE Level before the activity the figure rose to 70%, a dramatic increase of 47% (Source: Bournemouth University evaluation).

'Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics ('STEM')
Challenge' Days (4)

1st and 2nd July 2008 at Weymouth College (142 pupils)
9th and 10th July 2008 The Bournemouth & Poole College (79 pupils)

Four large exciting, challenging and fun 'STEM' Challenge days were held at The Bournemouth & Poole and Weymouth Colleges, with a total of 221 Year 8 and 9 Year students from 13 Aimhigher Target Schools taking part. These activity days are well proven and are very popular with the schools. During the day students in teams of 4 completed 3 different challenges in competition. The challenges are designed to require the students to work closely and communicate effectively with one another, firstly identifying the different skill sets they possess, then allocating tasks and responsibilities that matched these to come up with workable solutions to the design problems set, typical of those they would undertake at University when evaluating an initial design concept for their project year. During the day, Aimhigher ambassadors gave the students a 'University Life' talk and discussed with them the skills students needed to develop and build upon to be successful in Higher Education study.

The tasks themselves were based around real design problems, requiring real and achievable solutions:

• Design of a self-righting Sonar Buoy that gave of a visual flashing signal when dropped into water
• Design of a water powered vehicle, that stripped hydrogen fuel from the water chemically to charge a battery which was then used to power an electric motor
• Design and programming of a robot having the ability to climb as steep an incline as possible, by following a track it's sensors could detect

'Science Master Classes' - Physics and Electronics Pilot Project

This project involving 9 student's carefully selected from Westfield School in Yeovil was designed to pilot a structured 'Science & Technology Master Classes' intervention the strand wanted to evaluate in preparation for the new 'LIFE Ladder' initiative due to commence in September 2008.

By working with pupils expressing a strong interest in Science and Technology who have the ability to succeed at university, but unlikely to have gone without additional support, was seen as a crucial test of Aimhigher's effectiveness in terms of providing focused support. All the students attending fulfilled the new target criteria as advised by HEFCE and the aim of the project was to monitor the students progress and any positive changes in their attitudes towards HE study.

The students, all from year 11, attended Yeovil College, their most likely progression institution, the aim being to provide them with a different, more mature learning environment, as well as placing them in a specialised, well-equipped laboratory area, more akin to that found in Higher Education. The staff concentrated on providing a more stimulating approach to science and technology by linking their mini-projects to 'real' technological problems requiring real solutions.

The projects the students undertook were linked to their school course work and the Yeovil College staff facilitating were very experienced in this field. The resulting increased interest and motivation as well as the student's increased confidence in their own ability was very noticeable. The projects included a bicycle-powered generator, power-regulator and converter that could be switched in when free-wheeling to charge a battery that could then be used to power domestic appliances at a later time; a passenger lift that automatically recognised floor levels and opened and closed doors automatically when levels were reached, as well as giving indications to the passengers of their position; and a versatile robot designed and programmed to operate in hazardous environments to carry out a number of tasks.  

The students were also encouraged to work towards their 'CREST' awards (British Association for the Advancement of Science). Points gained from completing their projects successfully, will result in them gaining their 'silver awards'.  CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) is a UK-wide Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) award scheme managed by the BA Through CREST, young people aged 11-19 explore the real nature of STEM by doing their own creative problem solving through mini projects.

The project has been very successful and it is planned to expand and develop this type of initiative further from September 2008.

‘Engineering Challenge Days’ – Fleet Air Arm Museum , Yeovilton

7th and 8th March 2008

87 students expressing a strong interest in Engineering from schools right across the LIFE Partnership were invited to take part in an Engineering Challenge designed to test their ingenuity and stimulate interest in Engineering Design and Engineering careers opportunities in HM Armed services at degree level study.

The challenge the students faced was to design an Aircraft Undercarriage that was retractable, incorporated electronic circuitry to indicate to the pilot whether the undercarriage was in the up (stowed) position or fully retracted (landing position), or, somewhere in between, every pilots nightmare! The Undercarriage was then tested for take off and landing, to ensure structural integrity – a difficult and complex task requiring team work, good communication and allocation of tasks.

All construction materials had to be ‘bought’, so budget, design and weight were all significant factors to be considered. The exercise was realistic in every detail and much emphasis was placed on the importance of good time management, testing, design evaluation and  competent engineering methods. An HE Life talk by trained Aimhigher assistants completed a very successful day,  There were prizes awarded to the winning team and an Aimhigher trophy was presented by the base commander.

'Meet The Scientist' Day (Thomas Hardye School)

4th February 2008 (Taken from the schools 'Science College Newsletter') 

A pioneering 'Meet The Scientist' Day took place at Thomas Hardye School where 225 students currently studying the sciences from School Years 9, 10 and 11 each spent an hour meeting "Real Scientists" who had brought along aspects of their PhD projects to look at and discuss with the students. Sixteen dynamic role models (all either having obtained or were studying for their 'doctorates') from various universities and industrial organisations represented a wide range of scientific expertise including sports physiology, computer science, bacteriology, entomology, precious metal geology, astrophysics, acoustics, the chemistry of colour pigments, liquid crystals, explosives and medicines. 

They offered glimpses into the excitement of research and how science is applied to everyday life by providing interactive exhibits and giving a series of 10 minute interviews to the students about their qualifications and careers.

Students learnt about the science behind the extraordinary behaviour of parasitic wasps, the development of medicines and non-stick chewing gum, rubber ducks that change colour, glowsticks, railway sound vibrations, lasers, panning for gold, methods of chemical weapon detection, bacteria, our explosive sun and potential energy harnessing and how an interest in computer games can lead to the creation of artificial intelligence - a varied and expansive array of sciences! 

The students shared their thought about their experience afterwards - Year 10 student Chantelle Cockrell commented

"When our teacher first mentioned that we would be meeting different Scientists in our next lesson, everyone groaned. The stereotypical image of a scientist was apparent on everyone's mind: the long white lab coats, crazy grey hair and glasses. But after this experience, it was noticeable that this portrayal had been drastically changed".

One of the Scientists, Dr. Mel Duffield said:

"I enjoyed the day and was interested in reading their ideas on scientists before the event. Hopefully we didn't look too much like boffins on the day and I didn't sport any Einstein hair-styles or white coats! I did enjoy meeting the other scientists and hearing about their areas. I found it a really exciting mix of disciplines and areas". 

Dr Jess Rouse commented:

"Thanks for a brilliant day we really enjoyed ourselves and the work seemed to fly by, it was a really great experience".  

Dr. Lucie Green: "It was great to have such a high level of interaction with the students".  

Following event, the number of students expressing a strong intention to go on to study at university rose to 81%, an increase of 8% prior to the event.  Although not a target School, Aimhigher was interested in this project as the focus of Engineering Strand AL2b, was changing from 'Engineering' to 'STEM' (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, from August 2008 in-line with the Denham Report (February 2008) and the new school Diplomas.

Thomas Hardye is a very large secondary school with more than 2,350 students, each year group was larger than some of the schools within the LIFE Partnership.

The school was tasked with targeting 75 pupils who matched the new HEFCE funding guidelines, in the event 85 pupils fulfilled this criteria and attended. These were supported by Aimhigher.

The School agreed to support the rest of the students expressing an interest in Science. In all a very cost-effective partnership. The project was also being looked at as a potential pilot for the new LIFE Ladder school students expressing an interest in STEM subjects post August 2008.

The event was extremely successful and Westfield School (Specialist Science School Status) in Yeovil have already committed to host a similar event for the South Somerset Ladder Schools. The strand intends to discuss with Ladder Schools in South and East Dorset to host similar events with their neighbouring Ladder schools.

• ‘Robot Daze for Boyz’ - Yeovil College  (3rd June 2008)
• ‘Girls can make it in Engineering’ – Yeovil College  (4th June(2008)
• ‘Robotics Challenge Event’  – Thomas Hardye School (9th June 2008)
• ‘Robot Daze for Boyz’ – Weymouth College  (30th June 2008)
• ‘Girls can make it in Engineering’ – Weymouth College  
  (4th  July 2008)
• ‘Robot Daze for Boyz’ – The Bournemouth & Poole College  (3rd June 2008)
• ‘Girls can make it in Engineering’ – The Bournemouth & Poole College  (7th July 2008)
• ‘Robotics Challenge Day’ – The Bournemouth & Poole College  (11th July 2008)

These eight similar Aimhigher activity days were hosted by the LIFE Area, FE Colleges and facilitated by Setpoint Dorset and Setpoint Somerset.

These activities are well-tried and tested interventions and they have proven to be extremely popular and very successful activities with the schools.

From humble beginnings 4 years ago when just 14 girls from 2 schools expressed an interest in finding out more about the exciting career opportunities offered by Robotics, Control Systems and the relatively new technology of ‘Mechatronics’ and applied for places, mostly by word-of-mouth from those previous participating and the recommendation of teachers attending, the numbers of those young students participating in these Hi-Tech activities have soared, with 144 girls and 142 boys taking part in the 8 activity days offered this current academic year attending, all of them from 16 of the designated target schools in the LIFE Area.

‘Robotics’ and ‘Mechatronics’ are rapidly expanding technologies and there are an excellent range of study opportunities offered by the Higher Education Institutions right across the country leading to exciting, challenging and rewarding career opportunities in these technologically advanced fields.

Pupils work in teams of 4 to design, construct, programme and test robots that could perform a range of tasks independently in environments that are potentially hazardous or difficult for human-beings to work in. These activity days are carefully linked to the school curriculum and focused on a number of linked agendas – ecological and environmental considerations and development of inter-personal skills needed to be successful both in industry and at degree level study. The day included a group presentation linked to the particular task each group faced.

These activity days are always very successful and enjoyable, typically +95% of the students report that they had ‘thoroughly enjoyed the activity’. There was also a significant increase in the number of students stating that following this event they would now consider going to university to study  (typically 10% higher than recorded before the event).

Aimhigher trophies ‘for engineering excellence’ are awarded to the winning teams from each day and all students received a certificate recognising their achievements.

‘Girls can make it in Engineering and Technology’ Robotics Challenge Day- 9th January 2008  and  ‘Robot daze for Boyz’ Robotics Challenge Day - 10th January 2008

These two similar Aimhigher activity days were hosted by Yeovil College and facilitated by the newly formed Setpoint Somerset. These two challenging full-day events were attended by 61 Year 9 girls and 60 Year 9 boys who had expressed an interest in attending an activity day linked to a specific Hi-Tech branch of engineering that offers young people of either gender, a range of exciting career opportunities in Robotics, Control Systems and the relatively new technology of ‘Mechatronics’. These are rapidly expanding technologies and there are an excellent range of study opportunities offered by the Higher Education Institutions right across the country leading to exciting, challenging and rewarding career opportunities in these technologically advanced fields.

6 Schools from South Somerset and West Dorset attended the events;

• Beaminster School (West Dorset)
• Buckler’s Mead School (Yeovil)
• Preston School (Yeovil)
• Huish Episcopi School (Langport)
• Stanchester School (Norton-sub-Hamdon)
• Westfield School (Yeovil)

During the day, the pupils worked in teams of 4 and they learned how to design, construct, programme and test robots that could perform a range of tasks independently in environments that are potentially hazardous or difficult for human-beings to work in. The activity day was carefully linked to the school curriculum and focused on a number of linked agendas – ecological and environmental considerations and development of inter-personal skills needed to be successful both in industry and at degree level study. The day included a group presentation linked to the development of these technologies in the future.

The day was both very successful and enjoyable, with 97% of the students reporting that they had enjoyed the activity. There was also a significant increase in the number of students stating that following this event they would now consider going to university, with just 2% still indicating that they did not wish to go.

An Aimhigher Trophy for ‘was presented to the winning teams from each day and all student’s received a certificate recognising their achievements

2007

VGCSE Taster Days in Engineering

• Computer Aided Design
• Engineering Design
• Pneumatic & Hydraulic Control Systems
• Engineering Structures

Held October 2007 to June 2008

The Vocational GCSE (VGCSE) in Engineering and Manufacturing has grown from just one small cohort back in 2005 with just 5 pupils attending from one school into very large ‘Engineering Master Classes’ with currently 180 pupils from four schools in South Somerset attending.

This project is seen as being very important in terms of progressing young people into careers and ultimately Higher Education. From surveys conducted following evaluation surveys conducted, well over 70% of the young people who choose this double-GCSE option at school, go on to study engineering when they leave.

The project is funded by Aimhigher in Partnership with Yeovil College and the four target schools in South Somerset . The purpose of the taster days, eight of which have been run this academic year with in total 174 young people from year groups 8 and 9 attending, is to encourage young people with a strong interest in Engineering to consider this option when leaving school.

In this way the VGCSE continues to attract a large number of entrants, most of whom will progress into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related study at Yeovil College . The taster days held give students a real insight into what study in this subject entails.

These activities are held in the college and the students get to use ‘state of the art’ equipment that is not available to them in school. This fundamentally is the essence of the project - providing experiences that the schools do not have the equipment or specialist staffing to provide. The activities themselves are very popular and valued by the schools.

Stay with Science & ‘Raise The Game’ - 15th October 2007

To date this is the largest activity day yet organised and run by the AL2b Engineering Strand. Encouraging young people to ‘Stay with Science’ by enabling them to really experience activities spanning this wide ranging and diverse subject is essential if Britain is to encourage young people to become the ‘Engineers of tomorrow’ the country so desperately needs if it is to maintain it’s world lead in this area – so for the students attending the aim really was to ‘Raise the Game’! Engineering is fundamentally ‘Applied Science’.

The Event was conceived in order for students to view the ‘Sciences’ in a new and exciting way. The Activities were hosted by Westfield School in Yeovil and being so large, the school closed their upper school just to run this very full-day event. In all 297 Year 9 students from 5 South Somerset Schools attended (Buckler’s Mead, Stanchester, Preston, King Arthur’s and Westfield Schools.

More than 20 different activities were on offer and these were delivered by a large team of specialist facilitators. The activities were designed to be challenging and fun, but above all stimulating. Students were able to select three 90 minute activities during the day.

The event was extremely successful and the student’s clearly enjoyed themselves on the day and the evaluation conducted following the event reported an increase of 23% (from 44% up to 67%) in the numbers of students intending to consider HE study in this field.  

An introduction to Higher Education, a ‘University Life’ talk was given to all the students during the day by two trained Aimhigher Assistants and this proved to be very popular.

Sticklands School Engineering Technology Challenge Day
12th July 2007

This project day was the final activity at Stickland’s School that brought together 3 of the 4 elements covered in the 4 previous activity days in one ‘Engineering-Technology Challenge Day’, incorporating;

• Engineering Design
• Engineering Structures
• Robotics and Control Systems
• Engineering Solutions

During the day 53 children (Years 4-6) had real engineering problems to solve, by designing, making and testing solutions to set tasks;

• Design a self-righting Sonar Buoy, with a flashing beacon. Had to self-right itself when dropped into a bucket of water (‘the ’sea’) and when it did, this a warning light had to be activated which flashed as a rescue beacon. (Engineering Design, Structures & Solutions).

• Design a medical supplies delivery system that could be dropped from height without damaging the contents. Task to design a parachute delivery system for safely dropping an egg from 5meters height without damage – using engineering ‘impact-crumple technology’. (Engineering Design, Structures and Solutions).

• Design and make a model of a streamlined locomotive (train) and test for reduced drag in a wind-tunnel. (Engineering Design, Structures & Solutions).

Evaluation into how the project has changed the children’s perceptions of engineering has been conducted and Leanne Smith (Access and Widening Participation Researcher at PACE) is currently analysing the data which will be used to compile a report into the project.

Engineering Apprentices 'Green Powered Car Challenge'

July 2007

Yeovil College has recently hosted a summer school for thirty Engineering Apprentices. Fifteen are on the new `Young Apprentice’ scheme, recently finishing the first year of the two-year course. These apprentices are Year 10 students from Wadham, Stanchester, Preston, Westfield and Buckler’s Mead schools. The other fifteen apprentices are employed by local engineering manufacturing companies and studying at the College.

The aim of the summer school is to provide an intensive higher education level activity – to design, build, construct and then race a `green-powered’ car in just four days, bringing together a wide range of engineering skills.

Good planning, communication, motivation and teamwork is required for the engineers to communication their ideas. The fifth day is a higher education awareness raising visit to Bournemouth University’s Design, Engineering &

Computing facility. While they were there, the students designed, and `rendered’ (realistic image techniques) an alloy car wheel using state-of-the-art computer aided design software and then had a demonstration of their wheel being automatically manufactured using the very latest computerised techniques.

Speaking at the event, Brian Duke, Engineering Programme Manager for Aimhigher, said: “The Green-powered Car Challenge is a great way of allowing the apprentices to learn new skills and find out about their options.

The aim of the project is to provide students with a real higher education experience. It aims to be fun, stimulating and competitive – and engineering should be just that.”

For further information about the Apprenticeship Scheme or the Engineering Summer School, please contact Yeovil College on 01935 423921.

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Girls can make it too

27th June 2007

Yeovil College recently hosted the Girls can make it in Engineering Robotics Challenge. This event funded by Aimhigher and facilitated by the Wessex Setpoint who are based in Bath University, was the second that the College has hosted this year. Forty-eight Year 9 girls from five schools attended. The schools were: King Arthur’s School, Wincanton; Beaminster School; Bucker’s Mead School, Yeovil; Huish Episcopi School, Langport and Wadham School, Crewkerne.

This event has two purposes, to change perceptions of what a career in engineering/technology might be like in the new millennium and to encourage young people generally to consider study in these fields when they leave school, leading to further and ultimately higher education and to inform them of career opportunities in engineering/technology and the second to give them a chance to experience `college life’ first hand in the hope that many will choose to stick with maths and physics at school and choose the new Vocational GCSE (VGCSE) in Engineering whilst still at school

Study at University and careers in Robotics, Control Systems and Mechanatronics at University are rapidly expanding areas of engineering. This taster day introduces girls to these areas in a fun, challenging and exciting way. The day is always very successful and from just 15 girls three years ago from two schools, to nearly 90 girls from eight schools this year. There are now a number of girls studying on the VGCSE in Engineering at Yeovil College and on the new Young Apprentice scheme.

Prizes for the winning team were provided by Aimhigher. All the girls received certificates and the feedback from them was very positive.

Stickland’s Primary School Progression Pathway’s into Engineering Project 2007

This pilot project is aimed at encouraging children to develop an interest in science and technology at a young age - the key to ensuring that we continue to secure the engineering skills Britain needs in the 21st century if she is to retain her position as a world-leader in this vital economic sector.

Three more activity days have been held, two in the school, One entitled ‘Structures and Design’ culminated in the children designing and constructing a large model of the ‘Millennium Wheel’, the second introduced ‘Professor Fluffy’ to the children – This is the first time that this new, exciting and well devised initiative has been tested in the LIFE region and it is designed to raise the children’s awareness that they are on a ‘learning journey’ that ultimately culminates in degree level study at University. A third activity was held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton in Somerset. 8 Children from the school competed in the prestigious K’Nex Junior Engineers for Britain Challenge, representing Dorset at the area finals. The event involving 50 children, took place in the exciting ‘Cutting Edge’ Museum right under Concorde 002, the prototype British aircraft.

The children from the school now view ‘engineering’ in a completely different way to that they did at the start of the project – they now see engineering as challenging, stimulating fun and a real career option. They now talk knowledgeably of engineers ‘designing things’, ‘system control’ and ‘mechatronics’ rather than people in dirty overalls wielding hammers and spanners!

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‘Imagineering 2007’

The 4th Annual Imagineering event was held at the Royal Bath and West Showground (Shepton Mallet) 30th May – 2nd June 2007.

The Imagineering event was set up to encourage young people 8-18 to consider careers in the engineering industry, with a particular focus on Further and Higher Education, leading to degree lveel study. ‘Imagineering’ is essentially a large partnership of Hi-tech employers, particularly from the UK World-Class Aircraft Industry (Airbus, Thales, Rolls Royce and Augusta-Westland) which is centred in the SW.

Several FE/HE institutions were in attendance including Bournemouth University and The University of the West of England (UWE). It is supported by The Royal Navy, the REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) and the RAF, plus the Regions Setpoints (Science, Engineering & Technology Networks) from Dorset, Somerset, Gloucester and Wiltshire.

The event was centred around hi-tech, hands-on activities. This year over 40 different stimulating, challenging and ‘fun’ activities were offered, with over 5,000 young people taking advantage of trying them out!

HRH The Duke of Kent visited the exhibition, spending 45 minutes talking to young people and taking a good deal of interest in the engineering activities on offer. The Imagineering event also won the coveted ‘Silver’ award for the second best exhibit at the show which attracted almost 140,000 people over the four days it was open.

For more information visit the ‘Imagineering 2007’ Website at Bath & West

Girls can make it in Engineering Activity Challenge January - June 2007

Girls make up the most ‘under-represented’ group in terms of those studying to become engineers.
So when in 2005 The Aimhigher LIFE Partnership ran it’s first activity challenge day designed to let Year 9 girls in schools experience first-hand what a career in engineering might be like, it was to some extent breaking new ground. 

Since then, the 'Girls can make it in Engineering' projects have proved so successful more events were established throughout 2006.

The first of 2007 was held on the 12th January 2007 and was hosted by Yeovil College and delivered by Setpoint Wessex (Bath University). The second event is planned for 27th June 2007 and five additional secondary schools from the Yeovil catchment area will be participating;

To read more information please select the PDF below:

Girls can make it in Engineering 2007 - PDF 185kb

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Stickland’s Primary School Progression Pathway’s into Engineering Project 2007

Encouraging children to develop an interest in science and technology at a young age is the key to ensuring that we continue to secure the engineering skills Britain needs in the 21st century if she is to retain her position as a world-leader in this vital economic sector.

FE Colleges and Universities have long realised that the biggest barrier in terms of engaging young people to consider careers in engineering have centered around the eroded and outmoded perceptions of what engineering will actually entail in the 21st century.

The LIFE Partnership is piloting a project with Stickland’s Primary School (Evershot, Dorchester) to provide a series of planned activity days designed to support the idea that if these perceptions are to be effectively changed, interventions at a much younger age are needed.

To read more information please select the PDF below:

Sticklands School Project 2007 - PDF 105kb

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Gifted and Talented Progression Pathways Project Initiative - Maths & Physics into Engineering

This initiative began at Yeovil College in September 2004 and was aimed at stopping the drift of students away from traditional subjects such as Mathematics and Physics and to encourage pupils to achieve at least their potential in these areas, thereby opening up the prospect of a career such as engineering later on in their lives, where these two subjects are essential for successful study at HE Level. Currently 4 schools are involved with a total cohort of 50 pupils engaged.

The project has been very successful in terms of increasing and retaining the number of students who intend to study Mathematics and Physics at A/S and A Level, therefore opening up the possibility of an increase in the uptake by students of HE programmes in engineering later on.

The 32 students who participated in the first year of this project (2004-2005) have now just started the second year of their A Level courses (Level 3) at Yeovil College and have achieved 24 A/S Levels between them, impressively, 17 of these were at Grade ‘A’. They are all planning to go on to university to study Engineering or related subjects and their A2 courses which include Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Electronics will provide them with the ideal background to do so.

Four students are applying for pure engineering courses at university, from September 2007, two of these are Oxbridge candidates. This is the first time for 16 years that any students from Yeovil College have applied to study on ‘pure’ engineering courses at degree level.

The project has included visits to two world-class engineering companies – Airbus and Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems and these have undoubtedly affected their decisions to study engineering at university.

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Somerset & Dorset ‘Greenpower’ Challenge Event

Aimhigher are supporting the development and expansion of the ‘Greenpower Somerset and Dorset’ initiative along with a number of partnership organisations from the two counties. The project is aimed at encouraging and developing young people’s interest in engineering. ‘Greenpower’ is a national initiative that sets out to present engineering and technology to children still at school as being an exciting and worthwhile activity to take forward into life as a career. The event is designed to provide a ‘fun’ experience, but has a very serious purpose - to introduce young people to wide range of engineering principles. The teams are tasked with designing, constructing, testing and finally racing their cars competitively as part of a national initiative. The National finals take place at the famous Goodwood Racing Circuit in Sussex in October 2006.

Most of the school teams are composed of between 8 -12 young people (8-16 year-olds), who get together to form after-school clubs. In 2006 over 30 schools from Somerset & Dorset completed their ecological ‘Green Powered’ (Electric) cars between May and September and successfully raced them in the two Regional Heats held at the Sparkford Motor Museum (South Somerset) on 23/24th September 2006. Six teams from the two counties went forward to the finals in October, making their entry the strongest from any region in the UK.

As well as supporting this initiative financially and helping on the race-days, Aimhigher was actively involved in raising awareness of engineering career opportunities and progression routes into HE. A full evaluation was conducted and from this it emerged that the Greenpower Challenge was a very successful initiative, with 94% of the students stating that the activity had significantly raised their interest in engineering. All of the students indicated that they had enjoyed participating and 65% of the students who had ‘not considered going to university’ before participating in the initiative, stated that they would now reconsider their decision. Furthermore, 100% of the students who had been ‘unsure’ about going to university before they attended the event, stated that they would now reconsider going to university in the future.

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2006

Aimhigher Progression Pathways Project:  Supporting schools in Partnership delivery of Vocational GCSEs in Engineering and Manufacturing at Yeovil College

Sept 2004 – July 2006

This is the largest project initiative running in the LIFE Partnership Engineering Strand. Aimhigher currently supports 4 local area schools to deliver a Vocational GCSE in ‘partnership’ with Yeovil College. Currently 96 young people from these 4 schools are studying on this programme.

Vocational GCSE Programmes

Introduced in September 2002, these new qualifications are being taught in schools and colleges to give young people from school years 10 and 11 (14-16 year olds) the chance to learn more about the world of work, so they will find it easier to make choices about their future career paths.

The idea of forming partnerships with their local area Further Education College to deliver some of the more technical syllabus content, offers distinct advantages for both the schools and the college. Schools can find it quite difficult to deliver some components of the VGCSE in Engineering and Yeovil College is able to offer the schools proven progression routes into HE and beyond that, a wide range of career opportunities in engineering, supported by several world class regional employers, particularly those engaged in aeronautical engineering.

For further information on this project please select the full report below:

Yeovil College Aimhigher Progression Pathways Report (Word Doc 73kb)

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Short Certificated Courses in Engineering – Weymouth College

On-going until 2008

The Aimhigher LIFE Partnership engineering strand, has for the last 2 years been funding an on-going ‘Short-Certificated Vocational Progression Pathways Project’ in partnership with Weymouth College and seven of its local area secondary schools, six of which are key target schools.

The following Secondary Schools are currently engaged;

• All Saints CE School (Weymouth)

• Beaminster School

• Budmouth Technology College (Weymouth)

• Royal Manor School (Weymouth)

• The Sir John Colfox School (Bridport)

• The Thomas Hardy School (Dorchester)

• Wey Valley School (Weymouth)

For further information on this project please select the full report below:

Weymouth College Short Certificated Courses Report (Word Doc 56kb)

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Higher Education Awareness Raising Summer School for Engineering Apprentices 2006

Monday 17th - 21st July 2006

The third Aimhigher Summer School aimed specifically at Engineering Apprentices, hosted by Weymouth College. 

Apprentices represent the most difficult to reach vocational engineering grouping when it comes to encouraging them to consider Higher Education (H.E.).

The idea of a Summer School for apprentices was first conceived/funded 3 years ago, with a target set of putting 30 engineering apprentices through an 'awareness and aspiration raising activity' designed to promote H.E. The idea was conceived, to provide an H.E. Level project that was stimulating, enjoyable and fun, but of course had a serious purpose - to expose the apprentices to University life and what study at HE Level might actually involve.