STEM Potential with Imperial College London

We are delighted to be in the second year of our STEM Potential partnership with Imperial College London. It is designed to raise performance and long-term aspiration in the sciences and Maths amongst talented local state school year 10 students from across Shropshire, who may stay in the scheme until the end of their year 13. 

Interest and take up for the programme has been strong, Initially, this came from schools in the Marches Academy Trust whose support is greatly valued, but in 2021 the programme has expanded to include additional maintained schools. 

Aims

The programme is designed to raise performance and long-term aspiration in the sciences and Maths amongst talented local state school year 10 students from across Shropshire.

Adam Smiter, Head of Science Outreach, said, 'We hope this will enthuse students about what a range of possibilities a scientific education could lead to and get them thinking about what they would like to be able to do. We also aim to provide ideas for GCSE-related practical work that may be completed at home, including calculation of the magnitude of the Earth’s gravity and extraction of DNA from fruit, in the next few weeks.’ 

Background

Adam Smiter, Head of Science Outreach, has been busy putting the course content together with Heads of Faculty, both in liaison with Imperial and in collaboration with Oundle School who have been successfully running a similar scheme.

Resources

Members of our Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and computing departments, as well as lab assistants, all contribute. Our futures (careers) team also offers STEM-related advice for university applications and careers.  

Impact

Adam Smiter, Head of Science Outreach has been busy putting the course content together with Heads of Faculty, both in liaison with Imperial and in collaboration with Oundle School who have been successfully running a similar scheme. During 2020-2021 our offering was a mix of the virtual whilst Covid restrictions pertained, now we are holding sessions here on site as well as in London.  There will be masterclasses related to the curriculum, a lecture programme and support with revision and university applications.  We will host Imperial College London outreach here and help facilitate a Space Science Day.  The programme will run throughout the academic year.

Pupil Involvement

Year 10 to 13. Numbers involved have doubled in the second year of the course, with excellent feedback having been received via Imperial College. 

Frequency

This is an ongoing collaboration with many elements which will continue throughout this term and the year ahead.