STUDENTS at a Rugby secondary school are on track with their learning following a hands-on science, technology, engineering and manufacturing (STEM) day focusing on the rail industry.
Year 9 students at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College took part in tasks including designing a railway station and experimenting with pulleys and gears to enable a train model to move efficiently, before delivering a presentation on their findings.
The STEM day was made possible through The Heart of England Community Rail Partnership, which has partnered with the Smallpeice Trust to deliver a programme to secondary school students across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
Funded by CrossCountry Trains, the five year project aims to provide students in Years 9 to 11 with STEM days, visits to offsite rail locations and rail careers events.
The school’s science teacher and STEM coordinator Andrew Mushing said: “The day gave our students the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom into action within a real life scenario.
“This gives our students a real insight into where a range of science based subjects can take them in the future, and how these subjects apply to everyday life.”
Headteacher Alison Davies added: “It was wonderful to see our students working together when engaging in this hands-on STEM day. It is great to hear that this is the start of a programme of STEM activities and that we’ll be working with the Smallpeice Trust and The Heart of England Community Rail Partnership more in the future.”
