Dear STEM and Careers teachers
Welcome to the Gloucestershire STEM Autumn newsletter. There’s lots of exciting STEM activities happening this term, look out for free LEGO kit with the Tomorrow’s Engineers Robotics Challenge and don’t forget to order a programmable micro-computer for each of your Year 7s with BBC Micro:bit.
Gloucestershire STEM Celebration 2015
On 1st October we held our annual STEM Celebration event at Museum in the Park in Stroud. Science, DT and Careers teachers from across Gloucestershire attended this wonderful event alongside STEM Ambassadors from local companies. This great networking opportunity also looked at upcoming STEM events and local schemes and activities to get involved in. We also like to recognise excellence in STEM teacher and this year’s winners were:
STEM Teacher of the Year
James Hargreaves, The Crypt School
For his enthusiastic work to STEM at the school, including the Science Club, Go4SET and an off timetable DIY Faraday Challenge day for all the Year 9 and 10 students.
STEM Club of the Year
Katherine Safe, Cheltenham Bournside School
For her dedication to STEM at the school, especially supporting the STEM Club’s Sixth Form EES scheme and the Green Power Challenge.
The Six Week STEM Club Challenge
Looking to start a STEM Club but don’t know where to start? Got a STEM club running but need more ideas for activities? This term we are launching our Six Week STEM Club Challenge: ready-made challenges that will present you with the chance to build and run an exciting and engaging STEM club for just six weeks. Get in touch to request your free challenge pack from us, full of all sorts of useful hints and tips, as well a bunch of resources for the challenge. And while we are on the topic of STEM clubs why not put STEM Clubs Week in your diary, 1st-5th February 2016, a chance to celebrate everything STEM club related!
STEM Activity Feedback
With so many STEM activities happening across the region, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences of working with our volunteers. Click here to tell us about your STEM Ambassador event.
Royal Society Partnership Grants
Do you have a great idea for bringing research alive in school? Partnership Grants of up to £3000 are available to schools to enable students, aged 5 – 18, to carry out science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) projects. The next round will open for applications on 23 November 2015 and close 1 February 2016.
CISCO - Little BIG Awards
Cisco is inviting students in years 7 - 9to take part in the Little BIG Awards. The Awards challenges teams of 3-6 students to demonstrate how life could be made better by connecting everyday things together with the internet. The Awards will recognise teams that can demonstrate how they have worked together to get creative, plan and present their ideas. Additionally, all schools that register teams will be able to access additional support from us to help them get started and succeed! Teams must be registered by the 16th December, so for more information and to register visit
Discovery Friday at The Big Bang Fair (NEC, Birmingham)
The British Science Association are looking for KS3 student projects to be showcased at next year’s Big Bang Fair as part of Discovery Friday. If your STEM Club has some exciting projects to showcase, you can nominate your students. Teams of up to 6 students can be nominated, nominations open in November. The top 50 entries will be invited to present an engaging stand about their work at the Big Bang Fair on 18th March 2016. Bursaries are available to cover the cost of travelling to Birmingham. If you would like some advice about projects that could be entered please get in touch. More info about Discovery Friday is available online:
Please click on the links below for subject specific information.
Science
Technology
Engineering
Maths
Careers
Science
STEMNetworking: Discover Space
Take the chance to discover new and innovative ways of teaching space with your students. In collaboration with Immersive Theatres and STEM Ambassadors we will use a digital planetarium to explore space like it’s never seen before! After seeing a show in the planetarium we will explore what space resources are available and how STEM Ambassadors can support the activities. The event is on 19th March from 4.00-6.00pm, location tbc. Get in touch to book your space.
STEM Clubs Pack – Into Film: Into Space Competition
This term we have created another pack, in line with the Into Film and UK Space Agency competition: Into Film: Into Space. This is a competition for students to create a film on a space theme. Winning films will be screened for Tim Peake whilst he is in orbit on his space mission! We will be putting together a pack of activities you can do to structure a STEM club around the competition, and how you can make use of local STEM Ambassadors with STEM Expertise. Get in touchif you’d like more information and if you’d like us to send you this STEM Clubs pack.
I’m a Scientist Get Me Out Of Here!
I’m A Scientist Get Me Out Of Here! will return in March (7th–18th March 2016) and June (13th–24th June 2016), with students taking part in moderated web chats with real scientists. Scientists are grouped in different “zones” you can sign up your students to chat about topics relevant to their interests or what they’re studying. For the next round, teachers should register to take part at
Space Resources
Are you looking for activities for Space to inspire your students about space exploration? Then check out the resources developed based around British astronaut Major Timothy Peake, who is due to launch to the International Space Station in November. These resources are for use in lessons and STEM Clubs. To find out more go to or get in touchfor a brochure of space-related resources inspired by the mission.
British Science Week (11-20th March 2016) – Grants Available
British Science Week is an opportunity for your school to celebrate and promote science. There are lots of resources online, and plenty of STEM ambassadors who can work with you to run activities. The British Science Association has grants available from £200-700 to help schools cover the costs of running exciting activities. The deadline for grant applications is 23rd November 2015. Get in touchif you’d like some support from us for your application and see the website for more info:
The Royal Society of Chemistry – Chemistry at Work Funding
The Royal Society of Chemistry run a number of events in school as part of the Chemistry at Work programmes which aims to show pupils the relevance and societal importance of chemistry and future career opportunities in the subject. These workshops can be run over 1-3 days and are an opportunity for the school to meet with local organisations that specialise in chemical sciences who will deliver sessions about their industry. This term, the RSC are offering funding of up to £1500 per day to help schools to cover the costs of organising a Chemistry at Work event. Closing date for funding is 30th November 2015. There is more info online ( or get in touch if you’d like some help with your application.
Technology
Tomorrow’s Engineers Robotics Challenge
*FREE LEGO Mindstorms with this challenge*
Schools can apply for the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenges which gets students using Lego Mindstorms to design robots to complete space missions. Teachers will receive training in running the challenges, using the software and will receive the Lego Mindstorms and all the resources required to run the challenges for free. The challenge was developed with NASA and aimed at students aged 11-14. Students will work in teams to solve STEM problems, complete space missions, design robots and more! Students will be mentored by STEM Ambassadors for advice and guidance and the challenge could be run in lessons or as part of a STEM club – whatever suits you. It will run from January 2016 (when one day of teacher training will take place). To take part in this exciting opportunity, schools will need to complete an online application form (see website below) detailing how the school/students will benefit from taking part in the programme. The deadline for applications is the 5th November 2015, 5pmso be quick! Get in touch if we can help with your application and more info can be found on the website
BBC Micro:bit
*FREE Micro-Computers*
Every school is eligible to apply to the BBC to receive a free Micro:bit (a small programmable computer) for every Year 7 student in the school. The Micro:bit website has many resource ideas and there are Ambassadors standing by to support schools. You must register with the BBC to receive your school’s allocation, please go to the Micro:bit website.
Raspberry Pi Competition
This year the Raspberry Pi competition gives students the opportunity to drive innovation in Sport and Leisure. Students will need to design something using a Raspberry Pi that could benefit this industry, from wearable technology to apps to help crowd control in stadiums. Winning entrants will receive £1000. To register for more info, go to:
Pixar in a Box
Pixar Animation Studios have created some school resources to show how Pixar’s animators use key concepts in maths and science to create their films. There are different topics to choose from with lessons to suit different age groups. These are brand new resources so let us know what you think if you use them!
Engineering
BP Ultimate STEM Challenge
This competition is a great way for students to learn more about STEM and STEM careers by coming up with solutions to real-world problems. KS3 pupils are presented with three STEM challenges that they need to present their “energy efficient solutions” to. This year, the themes are Streamlined Ships, Better Buildings and Trim Turbines. Students will have the chance to compete for prizes, including a cash prize of £500 to spend on science equipment or a field trip. The celebratory final event will take place during British Science Week at the Science Museum in London. The deadline for applications is 15th January 2015 so this could be an option for STEM Clubs this term. To find out more visit:
Bloodhound SSC Education Programme
In the run up to the 2016 race year where the Bloodhound car will attempt to break the land speed record, Bloodhound SSC are expanding their Education Programme to local schools. There are a range of workshops including designing and building rocket cars, programming robots and visiting the workshop to see the engineers working on the car in action. These workshops have costs associated with them that vary depending on group sizes. However, there are free online resources for schools to use and Bloodhound ambassadors can give assemblies in schools for free. If you’d like more info, please get in touch and we can put you in touch with Bloodhound.
I'm an Engineer Get Me Out Of Here!
If you’d prefer an engineering themed activity – the dates above also apply to this event where students can talk to real engineers via moderated web chats. More information on the different engineering zones:
Maths
Maths Inspiration Lecture – Birmingham, Cardiff and Bath
The popular Maths Inspiration lectures return and this year they will be hosted in cities across the UK. The event consist of interactive lectures on different maths topics aimed at Sixth Formers and able Year 11s. Some local shows are Birmingham (16th November), Cardiff (15th December) or Bath (3rd March) and tickets are £7.50 each (they book up quickly!) More info:
Careers
Healthcare careers
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust Lifelong Learning Department would like to invite staff involved in careers and employability activities or who regularly discuss healthcare careers or STEM opportunities with students to a Healthcare Science Careers CPD event for teachers.
The first event will be held at Sandford Education Centres, Cheltenham General Hospital on 9th November 08:45 – 12:30 and will be replicated (please only attend one event) at Redwood Education Centre, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, 12th November 12:15 -16:00.
If you would like to attend the Cheltenham Event on 9th November pleaseclick here
If you would like to attend the Gloucester Event on 12th November pleaseclick here
Film Industry Careers Support
Are your students interested in working in the film industry? Into Film is a charity working with young people to highlight careers in film. There are plenty of online resources to download at We have also been given the opportunity for schools to host a free, assembly-style session (approx. 1 hour) from Into Film, showcasing careers in VFX (visual effects) and demonstrating how STEM qualifications can lead to careers in creative industries.