Shiregreen's STEM sessions a success

The pupils received the educational STEM sessions - which encompass science, technology, engineering and maths - after Hatfield Academy joined forces with the work-wise Foundation, with funding from Sanctuary Housing, which manages rented, sheltered and shared ownership accommodation across England.

The work-wise Foundation is a charity established by local businesses to enable employers to better connect with schools, children and the community to help young people understand, explore and prepare for work.

The sessions included designing, building and racing rocket cars, understanding buoyancy and constructing boats as well as creating alternative power sources from potatoes and oranges to power personally designed circuit boards.

Designed to demonstrate the link between STEM learning and the world of work, the programme showed families just how easy, fun and low cost it is to re-create at home.

Those who participated were challenged to capture their own STEM family learning journey in a scrapbook competition.

A spokesman for the programme said: “All the scrapbooks demonstrated great imagination, but pupil Zyra Kovacs and her family’s book, which captured fun and experiential learning across STEM, really impressed the judges.

“Zyra’s Mum, Csilla, was presented with their prize of £100 vouchers for a family day out at a STEM learning centre of their choice by the Master Cutler during a special assembly to mark the success of the sessions.”

Paula Smith, communication and engagement officer for Hatfield Academy, said: “It’s lovely to see families learning together and connecting school life and home life. It’s been a pleasure to be part of this experience.”

Melanie King, Sanctuary’s neighbourhood partnerships manager, added: “Education is vital, even from an early age, so we want to do all we can to support our residents and their families in developing skills for the future.

“There is such a big focus on getting people into STEM subjects these days so we’re delighted to be able to play some part in this.”

This project is funded by Sanctuary’s Community Investment Fund, supporting projects which benefit Sanctuary residents and their communities.