Westcliff High School for Girls
In 2003, we were the first all-girls school in the country to gain ‘Science & Engineering’ status and wish to continue to provide a greater enthusiasm and confidence with the girls’ knowledge and understanding of the fields of Engineering.
The Engineering clubs enable us to enrich STEM teaching with real life applications and career information, allowing us to collaborate across departments and deliver a broader knowledge and skill set of teaching and leadership. By working cross-curricular in this way, this allows us to increase our own motivation and career progression, in addition to extending our own skills which can be transferred to the classroom.
The hope is that by extending the staff involvement and student participation in the clubs, we can improve/ maintain attainment levels and progression, motivating them to continue their studies and future careers in different fields of STEM subjects.
Our main aim of the clubs is to encourage more girls to 'get involved' in Engineering and enhance their understanding of what is and could be involved in a variety of fields of Engineering. We are often overwhelmed with interest from the girls wanting to join the clubs, but are limited with time and resources as well as staff who are able to deliver and assist them. In previous years we have run clubs for year 9's the 'Engineering club', and the 'Rampaging Chariots', which involved years 8 & 10. Sadly we had to turn down the year 7's as we did not have the staff to be able to offer them a club. The aim in coming years is to get more staff from other STEM subjects involved and help out at clubs, extending the experience and knowledge as well as offering more time available to allow us to reintroduce a 'Year 7 STEM club'.
The plan for this year is to start up a NEW ‘Robotics/Programming’ club for year 7 as well as offering an extended version to KS4/5 groups. The younger years will be introduced to the robotics and programming and the intention is that we run an ‘in house’ competition towards the end of the school year. With the older years, we will make contact with a number of local schools, provide them with ‘basic start-up’ kits and challenge them to an inter-school competition. This is something we can continue with and expand on in the future. We have the potential to engage over 30 primary schools and 12 secondary schools through our subject network groups and the Teaching school.
These are plans we see as long term, not just the coming year. In addition to our brand new CDT building planned for completion in 2017-8 providing a much needed improved working environment, we are hoping to raise the profile of Engineering & DT though our clubs, whilst also elaborating on cross curricular links with Science & ICT and hopefully increase the numbers of girls choosing these STEM subjects at GCSE and AS/A2 level.
Sharon Parkin - Project Lead I have been involved with KS3 & 4 Engineering clubs at WHSG for 8 years, mentoring and guiding students and teams throughout the year, following on to taking them to represent the school at various STEM competitions, with much success. I have also mentored and seen many students through their applications for Arkwright scholarships, of which we have had on average two students per year gain success. The applicants have had to show a keen interest and explain their career path in a STEM subject to gain their scholarship. They also have to continue their education at the next level, A Level and/or University. My degree was in Design, using a variety of materials to design and make a range of products, my specialist areas within these being Wood, Metal and Ceramics. Over the years I have taught Graphics and Product Design to A level and Resistant Materials, Product Design and Engineering to GCSE.
Lyn McSorley - My first degree is in sculpture which I think has given me a good background knowledge of resistant materials and their properties. I also especially enjoy working with more compliant materials for model making such as thermoplastics and modelling polystyrene. I think that this knowledge combined with practical classroom experience of teaching students of how to shape and join these materials together means that I can make a contribution towards working as a team.
Since arriving at Westcliff High School for girls I have been fortunate to be involved in running a year 8 and 9 Young Engineer's club . Some of our members were successful in obtaining prizes and commendations in national and regional competitions such as the Big Bang, a UK -wide Engineering programme and Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society. I have found these experiences to be both professionally and personally satisfying and look forward to new challenges.
Matt Cornell – My Degree Is in Interaction Design, including User Experience Design which has developed my understanding of Innovative and Targeted approaches to design. I am currently beginning my NQT, and I teach Computer Science. Teaching this subject fills me with enthusiasm for the future of programming as there will be many more people who understand that programming is for everyone, not just for the developers. I have recently completed an assignment on encouraging girls in STEM subjects, particularly Computer Science.
Jon Bartlett - My specialist areas are in electronics and programming. I have previously been the Head of Electronics in a secondary school, teaching up to A-Level, and run a number of clubs and sessions for students to enter robotics and engineering competitions. I am able to assist with electronic system design, construction and troubleshooting of circuit prototypes and planning appropriate test procedures. I also have experience of developing robotics kits and simulator software. I would be able to commit at least one lunchtime and an after-school session weekly.
Ed Bye - I am a professional Electronic Engineer, MIET with a background in R&D earlier in life telecommunications and later/currently medical instrumentation principally (Registered Clinical Technologist) in aspects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and incontinence. I have been a STEM Ambassador for several years, working extensively with the girls at WHSG in various lunchtimes clubs throughout, amongst fulfilling other engagements organised by Explore STEM. My skills are fundamentally with electronic design of both simple and complex instrumentation that often involves the use of an embedded microprocessor or controller. I am confident with a wide range of such devices along with peripheral support components and modules. Although not a professional programmer I can confidently write programs and software in several languages. I have excellent practical electronic construction skills and familiar with the safe use of many engineering tools and machines for more general engineering along with a wide knowledge of many aspects of engineering and technology.