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Barrow Engineering Project
Programme Overview
The Barrow Engineering Project
(BEP) was launched in April 2008 and is a major
component of the Academy’s ongoing effort to
encourage greater numbers of young people - and from
a more diverse range of backgrounds - to become
engineers and technicians.
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria is
a deprived area with high levels of unemployment.
Many young people leave the area to seek work
elsewhere [between 1991 and 2001 there was a
reduction of 35% in 18-30 year olds in
Barrow-in-Furness compared to less than half this
figure nationally].
Since its launch the BEP has
worked with five secondary schools, two Further
Education colleges, local businesses and other
stakeholders in Barrow-in-Furness, to actively
engage students with engineering. Thanks to recent
funding from
The Garfield Weston Foundation the BEP
was able to start working with 10 feeder primary
schools in the 2011/2012 academic year. The
objective of the BEP is to:
-
raise aspirations and
skills levels by providing tangible, realistic
pathways to apprentice, technician and
undergraduate learning and employment;
-
contribute towards the
creation of an engineering skills base capable
of meeting the region’s future needs.
The BEP achieves this by
enriching the existing Science and Technology
curriculum, increasing access to high-quality
extra-curricular activities and building links
between schools and local employers. Previous
Academy work with schools has demonstrated that the
practical elements of Science, Design and Technology
– the genuine, ‘hands on’ experience of making
things - are the most effective means of engaging
and sustaining students’ interest in engineering.
The BEP has built on this by providing students with
opportunities to take part in authentic engineering
projects – from building and testing hovercrafts and
electric cars, to visiting local engineering
employers and national engineering careers fairs.
In addition to
centrally-provided activities, each school is
allocated an annual budget for extra curricular
engineering activities, both managed by a
locally-based Project Co-ordinator employed by the
Academy. The Co-ordinator helps schools choose which
activities best meet students’ needs and arranges
the activities with external providers and
employers.
In the four academic years
since its launch, the BEP has:
-
Provided 17,500
opportunities for local student participation in
engineering activities;
-
Involved 31 local
employers including BAE Systems Submarine
Solutions and Vattenfall;
-
Involved nearly 200
teachers;
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Involved over 120 STEM
ambassadors;
-
Actively engaged females
with average participation rates of 48% female;
-
Further demonstrated the
effectiveness of practical activities to
positively influence young people’s attitudes to
engineering;
-
Attracted considerable
local enthusiasm and positive publicity in the
local press
Key points extracted from
the Year 2 Evaluation Report are:
-
BEP activities have raised
student and teacher awareness of engineering as
a subject and possible career focus. Teachers
are making an explicit connection between STEM
subjects, using BEP engineering activities to
demonstrate the application of other curriculum
subjects such as Mathematics, Science and
Teachnology, including Design
-
Increased engagement in
extra curriculum activities provides pupils with
opportunities for enhancing their attainment and
skills. Pupils reported the benefits of
opportunities to reinforce skill development in
a ‘fun way’, which also enhanced their
motivation. The standard curriculum has been
enriched through BEP activities.
-
Teachers reported positive
impact on pupils learning but said it was too
early to demonstrate enhanced attainment in core
assessments such as GCSE for pupils who
participated in BEP activities.
-
BEP was seen as making a
definite contribution in supporting teachers CPD
and curriculum development which we believe will
have an impact on the attainment and skill level
of local learners.
Activities for 2011/2012
Academic Year have included:
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All schools, both
secondary and primary, have set-up and are
running successful engineering clubs;
-
A number of schools and
also Engineering Diploma students are continuing
to work on Greenpower F24 kit cars. There is
also a Goblin kit car project running in 3
primary schools;
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10 STEM Challenge Days
(each involving up to 60 students) took place in
secondary schools and Furness College;
-
An Engineering Education
Scheme team ran at Barrow Sixth Form College
supported by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions;
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10 full-day STEM CPD
training sessions have taken place for staff in
all primary schools;
-
A vast range of
collaborative and in-house events took place
during National Science & Engineering Week 2012
(09-18 March);
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A Future Engineers Day was
hosted by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions on 27
March for 100 Year 9 students and 12 Year 12
students;
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A Wind Energy Challenge
Day hosted by Vattenfall took place;
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The BEP was represented at
Regional Big Bang Fairs and at the main Big Bang
Fair at the NEC in Birmingham in March;
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Four Year 9 award winners
attended an engineering experience residential
course in York in July 2012;
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In addition to the above,
all schools had funding bids for in-house
engineering activities approved.
Activities for 2012/2013
Academic Year:
Thanks to recent funding from
The Sir John Fisher Foundation each school and
college will have their in-house funding to run
engineering activities increased in the 2012/2013
academic year as well as further collaborative
activities taking place.
Further details for activities
during the 2012/2013 academic year will be announced
here shortly.
Schools and Colleges
Involved in the BEP
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Barrow Island Primary
School
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Barrow Sixth Form College
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Burlington CE Primary
School
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Dowdales School
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Furness Academy
-
Furness College
-
George Romney Junior
School
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Holy Family Catholic
Primary School
-
Low Furness CE Primary
School
-
Newbarns Primary School
-
Pennington CE Primary
School
-
South Walney Junior School
-
St Bernard’s Catholic High
School
-
St Pius X Catholic Primary
School
-
Ulverston Victoria High
School
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Victoria Junior School
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Walney School
For Further Information
Please contact either of the following for further information on the BEP:
Mr Brian Wood
BEP Coordinator
07522 012341
Email: Brian Wood
Mrs Lynda Mann
Team Leader, 5-19 Education
020 7766 0686
Email: Lynda Mann
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