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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
has also been able to start working with 10 feeder
primary schools in the 2011/2012 academic year. The
objective of the BEP is to:
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raise aspirations and
skills levels by providing tangible, realistic
pathways to apprentice, technician and undergraduate
learning and employment;
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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 first three academic
years since its launch, the BEP has:
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Provided 9500
opportunities for local student participation in
engineering activities;
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Involved 13 local
employers including BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
and Vattenfall;
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Involved over 110
teachers;
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Involved over 120 STEM
ambassadors;
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Actively engaged females with average
participation rates of 48% female;
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Further
demonstrated the effectiveness of practical
activities to positively influence young people’s
attitudes to engineering;
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Attracted considerable
local enthusiasm and positive publicity in the
local press
Key points extracted from
the Year 2 Evaluation Report are:
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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 Technology, including
Design
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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.
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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
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All schools, both
secondary and primary, have set-up and are running
successful engineering clubs;
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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) will take place in secondary schools and
Furness College;
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An Engineering Education Scheme
team is running 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;
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A range of
collaborative and in-house events will take place
during National Science & Engineering Week 2012
(09-18 March);
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A Future Engineers Day will be
hosted by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions on 27
March for 100 Year 9 students and 12 Year 12
students (View
video of previous Future Engineers day);
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A Wind Energy Challenge Day hosted by Vattenfall will take place;
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The BEP will be
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 will attend an
engineering experience residential course in York in
July 2012;
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All schools have had their funding bids
for in-house engineering activities approved and are
working on these in addition to all the above
activity.
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
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Furness College
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George
Romney Junior School
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Holy Family Catholic Primary
School
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Low Furness CE Primary
School
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Newbarns
Primary School
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Pennington CE Primary School
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South Walney Junior School
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St Bernard’s Catholic
High School
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St Pius X Catholic Primary
School
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Ulverston Victoria High School
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Victoria Junior School
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Walney School
Project Evaluation Reports
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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