Gloucestershire STEM Teacher News – April 2015
Dear STEM Teachers,
2015 is turning out to be a bumper year for STEM! There is a lot going on in the next few months, with plenty of activities planned in and out of school to raise aspirations and pupil engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. If you would like more information about anything on this list, or to get some advice about STEM in your school then get in touch!
If you are curious as to what schools are requesting from STEM Ambassadors, why not take a look at our current list of STEM Ambassador opportunities. You’ll see listed all the opportunities currently being advertised to STEM Ambassadors across Gloucestershire. Want to see your school on that list? Get in touch- it would be great to talk this through with you.
In this newsletter:
STEM Placements
STEM Conferences and Teacher CPD
STEM Activities & Resources
STEM-themed Trips
STEM Competitions
STEM Placements
Get In2Science at the University of Bath In2Science can help find research lab placements at the University of Bath for AS science students who are predicted grades A-C, who wish to go to University to study a STEM subject and are from low socio-economic backgrounds. The placements last for 2 weeks and are fully funded, with the students getting £50 per week to assist with transport and food costs. If you have any students who you feel would benefit from this opportunity, please direct them to the online application form at Applications need to be submitted by the start of May. If you would like a poster to put up around school, then get in touch.
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STEM Conferences and Teacher CPD
Engineering Development Trust Teacher’s Workshop – 23rd June, Messier Bugatti Dowty, 09.00-15.30.Teachers are invited to attend a CPD day at MBD, a world-leader in aviation landing gear. Teachers will receive resources to support classroom teaching, information about local STEM careers and have a chance to go behind the scenes at a secure aviation facility. Places are limited. To book your free place please email Chris Ward at
Stimulating Physics South West CPD Day – Friday 19th June, Plymouth, free.Annual CPD day featuring a mix of practical workshops, talks and networking. Refreshments and lunch provided. Suitable for those new to physics teaching, technicians, trainees and experienced physics teachers. Book online at
Design and Make the Future – Saturday 16th May, York, £25. Annual event for design and technology and engineering teachers. Exhibition area, keynote speakers and workshops to help you develop your curriculum. Book online at
Get in touch to tell us about the STEM CPD happening at your school – we’re always happy to pop along and talk about STEM if there’s a chance!
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STEM Activities & Resources
IET Faraday Challenge ResourcesThe resources to run the ever popular IET Faraday Challenges are now online ( If you would like support in running your own Faraday Challenge, including planning the day and on the day help please get in touch.
The MET Office STEM Ambassadors available for STEM sessions Local MET Office Ambassadors are offering free STEM sessions on the maths in forecasting, computer modelling for weather and climate, extreme weather, instruments and measuring weather, the water cycle and climate change. Please get in touch to request a STEM Ambassador.
Engineering Week 2015, 6-11th July 2015 Professionals and academics from the world of engineering have joined with the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Institution of Structural Engineers to celebrate the world of engineering.If you would like to promote Engineering and STEM to students at your school pleaseget in touch to discuss options.
Erathostenes 2015 - Students from all over the world are invited to join the Erathostenes project and measure the circumference of the Earth. The measurements will take place between 14th and 25th September 2015, reproducing the experiments and calculations of the ancient Greek Eratosthenes, the first person to measure the circumference of the Earth. For more information and to register your school, visit
I’m a Scientist / I’m an Engineer, Get Me Out of Here! – This hugely popular free activity will be back for more online interaction between pupils and scientists and engineers in June and November. To find out more and register your class visit or
ESERO-UK Tim Peake Grant Scheme - grants of between £500 and £1000 are available for innovative projects to celebrate British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station. Activities which involve the whole school and the local community are encouraged and can cover a wide range of subjects. For more information, visit Please get in touch with us if you would like to talk through a potential application.
Women in Engineering Day - 23rd June 2015 – To raise the profile of engineering as a career for all, why not put on an Engineering activity with some great female role models. For a downloadable resource pack click on
Maths Resources Online A new website has recently launched full of online maths activities for students (Year 5 – Year 11). Have a look at
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STEM-themed Trips
Your Green Future, University of Gloucestershire Park Campus – 25th and 26th June. Secondary school students will take part in hands on activities run by local companies that explore a low carbon, energy efficient future. To book this FREE event or find out more please visit
Science for Schools, Cheltenham Science Festival -2-5th June 2015. As well as the huge programme of events at the Festival, there is also the schools programme where you can sign up your school for workshops led by top scientists and engineers. Workshops are aimed at KS3, for more info:
Gretton Science Fair, Gretton Village Hall, GL54 5EP – Saturday 16th May, 11.30-16.00. This family-friendly science fair is in its 5th year and getting bigger each year!
Imagineering at Royal Bath & West Show – 27th – 30th May 2015. The Royal Bath & West Show is England's biggest celebration of rural life and the country’s only 4 day royal show. Attendees can enjoys a feast of STEM in the Imagineering Fair, so if you are planning a trip to the show, make time for Imagineering!
Big Bang Fair South West, Exeter University – 25th June 2015
Featuring explosive theatre shows and engaging, immersive activities, the Fair is more than just a great day out! It’s an opportunity to meet some of the South West’s leading STEM professionals and discover how school subjects can lead to fantastic careers. Plus, if your students have a STEM project they would like to enter for the National Science + Engineering Competition then bring it along - all for free! To register, visit
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STEM Competitions
Mars Balloon - Test anything that humans or robots could someday be doing on Mars! Fill a capsule with an experiment which will travel by balloon to 30km above the Earth’s surface - a place where conditions of gas pressure, temperature and radiation are very similar to the surface of Mars. Deadline for the delivery of experiments is 12th June 2015. See to register.
My Digital Rights - Who is watching us when we're online? Should governments monitor our movements on the Web? Should trolling be made illegal? Do we need a new bill of rights to protect the future of the internet? Join The British Library and schools from the UK and around the world to create a Magna Carta for the digital age. Deadline for clause submission is 1st June 2015. See more at
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That’s all for this term!