Lyndon School learners help teach STEM masterclasses for primary pupils
Young people take part in HS2 workshop
Year 10 learners from Lyndon School in Solihull, part of the Summit Learning Trust, have been taking part in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) masterclasses thanks to the Royal Institution this term.
The Royal Institution is an independent charity creating opportunities for the public and scientists to explore science together. The young people on the masterclass programme have developed workshops to present to their primary peers.
This term three of the groups have delivered their masterclasses to children from Ulverley School and Olton Primary School on lava lamps, rockets and elephants’ toothpaste! The week before each session, they trial their lessons with Lyndon’s own Key Stage Three STEM club that runs every Monday. This has allowed them to evaluate and make improvements where needed so that their Year 5 masterclasses are perfected.
Not only have the Year 5 visitors learned a lot about science during their visits, becoming familiar with the secondary school will also help them feel comfortable and confident when it is time for them to start in Year 7.
Lyndon School makes sure to provide lots of engaging STEM activities for learners, and 50 of them recently participated in a HS2 STEM day. The day included sessions exploring an introduction to engineering, working on team building activities and building creativity skills. Careers advice was given which enhanced learners’ understanding of the jobs available to them in the STEM industry, this was especially interesting as HS2 will impact the local area significantly over the coming years and become a major employer.
Most of the morning focused on building a railway for the future and planning ways in which this could be completed sustainably, an integral part of Summit Learning Trust’s vision. Learners also had to predict what stations will look like in 2050 and they used forward thinking as they considered AI technology and robotics. The afternoon allowed learners to engineer a bridge that could hold a weight. The competition winners were able to hold 5kg of weight, which was a fantastic achievement.
Abid Butt, Headteacher at Lyndon said:
“I am so proud of our Year 10 students for the hard work they have poured into their STEM masterclasses. Having them teach their younger peers really focuses them and it’s lovely seeing the younger children absorb knowledge in an exciting and interactive way. I am also thankful to those who came in and put on the HS2 day with some of our older learners. We are always thinking ahead at Lyndon and it was great to bring careers in engineering to life for them.”
More information:
- Lyndon School was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022
- Ofsted inspectors noted that Lyndon School is a happy, friendly and caring place. Leaders are ambitious in their expectations. They want the very best for their school community.
- The Summit Learning Trust family is currently made up of three secondary schools, four primary schools and a sixth form college educating around 8000 learners.
- All Summit Learning Trust academies are located in the Birmingham and Solihull areas.