Amanda Moffat
DT teacher and STEM coordinator, Alderman Peel High School
From a single start
What began as one Big Bang at School event has grown into a thriving STEM programme at Alderman Peel High School. Teacher Amanda Moffat shares how EngineeringUK's support has helped students discover new skills, build confidence and explore careers they might never have considered.
When students returned to school after the Covid-19 lockdowns, I knew they needed opportunities to get away from their screens. They need opportunities to try something practical and discover what they could achieve.
I wanted to bring engineering and technology to life through hands-on experiences, but as a rural school, accessing STEM activities and external providers wasn't always easy.
That's when I discovered EngineeringUK's bursary programme, which helps eligible schools access STEM opportunities they might otherwise struggle to afford.
With that support, we organised our first Big Bang at School event, bringing 5 different STEM workshops to every student in year 7.
I'm now organising our sixth.
Bringing engineering to life
Over the years, our Big Bang at School events have grown into something students and staff look forward to.
EngineeringUK's bursary has helped us bring in external organisations to deliver workshops, while Neon has helped me discover activities that suit our students.
One of the most popular has been a Sphero BOLT coding workshop delivered by Skill Supply, where students get hands-on experience of programming.
We've also built towers using K'Nex, designed boats with local company Neil Thompson Boats and explored the principles of flight with RAF Marham.
Using EngineeringUK's Big Bang at School Blueprint and educational resources (available on EUK Education), we've developed our own workshops too, including a Mission to Mars activity.
These experiences do more than introduce students to new skills. They also help them understand the careers connected to what they're learning.
There's a saying, 'If you can see it, you can be it', and I think that's particularly important for our students.
Without opportunities like these, many would have limited exposure to practical STEM activities or the range of careers available in engineering and technology.
Seeing the difference in our students
Alongside our Big Bang at School events, I run a STEM club for students across different year groups. I've seen how these opportunities help young people grow in confidence and develop new ambitions.
One former pupil, who was also part of our student leadership team, spoke passionately about how our STEM activities had benefited him. He's now studying engineering and has completed work experience with Lotus Cars.
As a female Design and Technology teacher, I'm particularly keen to encourage more girls to explore engineering.
One pupil attended a Women in STEM workshop and went on to choose Design and Technology at GCSE. Having originally wanted to become a nurse, she's now interested in combining those ambitions through medical engineering.
Another pupil hopes to become an aerospace engineer.
It's amazing how one experience can change a young person's perspective on what's possible.
From one event to lasting change
What began as a single Big Bang at School event has helped us build a much wider programme of STEM activities.
As a member of EngineeringUK's Teacher Network, I've also been able to share experiences with other teachers, provide feedback on resources and discover new opportunities for our students.
One of our proudest moments came when our Ofsted inspection coincided with our annual Big Bang at School event.
The inspectors were able to see our students taking part in the activities, and our school received an 'Exceptional' rating for personal development and wellbeing, with our enrichment opportunities, including STEM, contributing to that judgement.
We're now viewed as a regional hub of excellence for STEM.
Looking back, it's remarkable how much has grown from that first event.
We've built relationships with employers, introduced students to new career possibilities and created opportunities that continue well beyond a single day of activities.
For me, that's the real value of Big Bang at School. It gives students the chance to discover what they're capable of, explore new interests and start imagining futures they might never have considered before.
Our STEM provision simply wouldn't be anywhere near what it is today without the support of EngineeringUK from the get go.
