Students’ ‘big bang’ in science and engineering

STUDENTS from QE High School are making a ‘big bang’ in the world of science and engineering.

Staff from the council’s Property Design team have been working with Year 12 pupils on their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects.

It is part of the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) which encourages sixth form students to study engineering courses in further or higher education.

The students work with local companies and organisations and are given research and development briefs related to real industrial problems.

QE High students were asked ‘to create an educational environment fit for the 21^st century in Wales, where it will meet the needs of the community and provide the best learning provision for the area’.

The brief was developed by the Property Design team to reflect the objectives of the 21^stCentury Schools and Education Programme.

Officers worked closely with the students on two projects – one to investigate methods of chlorine removal for pools and the other was to design a new sustainable science classroom.

The project investigating methods of chlorine removal for pools won the Best Chemical Solution category and was shortlisted for Best Water Solution category in The Big Bang Fair (South Wales) 2016.

Executive Board Member for Education Cllr Gareth Jones went along to the school to congratulate all the pupils talking part in the STEM projects.

He said: “I hope the students enjoyed working with our officers and it gave them a positive experience of working with professional engineers in a corporate setting.

“The officers spoke very highly of the students describing them as talented and focused with particular praise for the standard of report writing and their presentation skills.

“We wish the students well in their chosen careers and are in no doubt that they will be very successful in whatever they choose to do.”