The phrase ‘you can’t be it, if you can’t see it’ is often coined when we talk about enticing young minds into our industry.
Thanks to generous sponsorship from OPITO, we were able, through Skills for Energy, to offer 200 children from three local primary schools a chance to enjoy two mornings of offshore wind related activities at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, supported by its first-year T-Level engineering students and a group of industry experts.
Year five and six pupils from Peterhouse Church of England Primary Academy Ormiston Cliff Park Primary Academy and Blundeston CEVCP moved across four classrooms to build a turbine kit and motor, a paper turbine structure and a marble run, using problem solving and craft material. They also had fun constructing a lollipop stick chain reaction to see what happened when stored energy is transferred to movement energy.
Kate Houlgate, year five class teacher at Blundeston Primary said: “When you look at the environment and ecology there’s rather a gap in the curriculum, so we rely on assemblies and events like this to bridge that gap. We live in an area where there’s massive activity so it’s so important our pupils know what is going on around them.”
Amelia Brewer, year five class teacher at Peterhouse added: “The children have absolutely loved it. Getting them engaged in science at this age is key. Watching the lollipop sticks explode apart blew their minds.”
We were joined by industry experts Sophie Skipp Chris Hosea Richard Sykes Eng Tech MIMechE, Cert IOSH Rosie Beevor Eleanor Bessey and Gabrielle Waterman, who gave up their time to share expertise with the pupils.
Sophie Skipp, stakeholder manager at Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms said: “We’ve volunteered three people over two mornings and we have reached 200 children, which is just amazing. They have all put themselves in the seats of engineers, engaged with science and had some great fun, while being inspired by the T-Level students.”
Chris Hosea, Plant Manager for Dudgeon Wind Farm added: “It’s always nice to see how basic physics principles can be transformed into real-life practical skills. The children were absolutely awesome – so engaged and interested.”
Rosie Beevor, Country Manager at Deutsche Windtechnik said: “The kids were really enthusiastic and they definitely made the connection to the subject of renewables. It was great to see them utilising not only the main STEM subjects but also their creative minds.”
Huge thanks to OPITO for funding the event, our industry experts, Katy Carlyon, Sophie Green and Lottie from East Norfolk Sixth Form College for helping to organise the sessions and Speedy Fixings Ltd for providing the nuts and bolts to build the turbines!
“We also want to thank the amazing T-Level students for working with the children to share the excitement of their own learning and helping to inspire the minds of the future,” said our Skills for Energy manager Suzanne Allen.