STEM Programme to be brought to over 200 Kinross Pupils
More than 200 pupils at Kinross High School will now have the chance to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) thanks to the support of WSP.
The global professional services consultancy which originally sponsored 25 pupils to take part in the Design, Engineer Construct!® (DEC) programme in 2016, has extended its funding of the project for 2017 so that more pupils can learn about STEM subjects.
Kinross High School is one of the first schools in Scotland to roll out the accredited programme and registered on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
The DEC programme at Kinross High School includes both theoretical and practical activities including lessons on the roles available within the construction industry and how a project goes from feasibility to construction.
Practical activities include site lessons on land surveying and how to use Building Information Modelling (BIM) software to create dimensional models of their own building designs.
Sarah Piscitelli, senior engineer at WSP, said: “We’re really excited to help bring the Design, Engineer Construct! Programme to even more pupils at Kinross High School this year.
“The feedback from last year’s programme has been excellent so we were keen to help extend this to allow more pupils to learn about engineering and the exciting career opportunities that can exist within this industry.
“We’re proud that Kinross will be one of the first high schools in Scotland to take the programme to this level and hope that more schools will get the chance to do this in the future.”
Richard Smith, design and technology teacher at Kinross High School said: “The pilot course that we ran, with the support of WSP, has been a huge success and we are delighted that this will now be extended to over 200 pupils across the school.
“It’s great to know that there is such a thirst from the pupils for these subjects and we hope that it will encourage more children to go on and study it further either at college or university or go on to pursue a career in the industry.”
Alison Watson, chief executive of Class Of Your Own Limited, the social business behind Design, Engineer Construct!, said: “The uptake of DEC in Scotland has been really exciting. Kinross High is a school with high aspirations for its young people, and the confidence and creativity simply oozes out of these children. It just shows what can be achieved with a great teacher and great industry support. These children will have an exceptional start to their working lives – just what Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce is all about.”
Projects undertaken by WSP in Scotland include the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, the Edinburgh Gateway Interchange and Glasgow 2014 Athlete’s village in Dalmarnock.
For more information about DEC, visit www.designengineerconstruct.com
