MP joins county’s gifted and talented students
Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones will be visiting Etone School on July 9 to meet 50 gifted and talented 12 to 14-year-old students from across Warwickshire.
Mr Jones will be participating in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) event organised by Warwickshire Education Business Partnership (WEBP) to encourage students to enjoy STEM subjects and identify how they are used practically in the world of work.
There will be 14 students from Etone School and six students from each of the following schools across Warwickshire: George Eliot School in Nuneaton, Aylesford School in Warwick, Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby, Trinity School and North Leamington School in Leamington Spa and Southam College in Southam.
The students will be participating in a team work challenge, where they will be building rocket cars and designing bridges. Students will build an air powered rock car using K’nex as well as design and build the strongest and most cost effective model bridge.
Bridges are tested to destruction as teams are judged on design, cost and strength of their structures. Speed and durability are the measures of success on the students’ rocket cars.
The event is being run by Warwickshire Education Business Partnership (WEBP) who have been preparing young people for adult and working life for many years. Recently published figures show almost a million 16 – 25s are unemployed.
“Never has there been a more significant time to ensure that all young people are equipped with skills, appropriate attitudes and experience they need to meet the economic demands they will face as our future workforce,” says Sheila Hancox, Head of the WEBP.
“Business involvement with schools can be a powerful catalyst to increased academic achievement. It can also enable young people to make better-informed decisions at the key transition points in their education, and help them develop the employability skills needed for the workplace. We are delighted that an MP is taking an interest in skills we are teaching our future workforce.”
Companies supporting the event include the Armed Forces (Army and RAF) Lanemark International and Alsthom.