All our students are given resources and information on which professions are incorporated within that sector; the academic path required; and possible future employment.
Trips are organised to employers and further and higher education establishments to show the students how to gain access to the qualifications, and speakers are invited in to talk to interested students.
As part of the Engineering Sector Drop, students from Years 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students at Manchester Academy were treated to two fabulous days at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester. The days were designed to introduce the students to the wide variety of engineering careers available.
At Manchester Metropolitan University, the students were asked to design a new hairdryer for a specific target market (either teenagers, 30-45 year old men, or 25-35 year old women). They were given Plasticine and asked to make a prototype, then present their idea to everyone else.
After being treated to a delicious lunch in their canteen, the students were given another challenge – to design and build a platform made of straws!
The following day, engineering degrees available at the University of Manchester were explained to the students, who were given the chance to ask questions of a current postgraduate. They were then given a tour and demonstration of engineering in the Rolls Royce lab.
In the afternoon they were taken to the Materials Science building of the university where they learnt about ductile and brittle materials. They then put the strength of chocolate to the test by welding pieces of chocolate together and seeing how much weight they could hold. The winning chocolate carried 11kg!
Year 10 students were then invited to attend an engineering workshop run by BT Apprentices. After an introduction to how BT Apprentices are recruited and how they progress through the company, they then got to see all the equipment in a BT van. They tried on high-visibility jackets and hard hats, set up protection booths and learnt how to work a machine which measures gas emissions.
What the Year 10s didn’t realise was that BT offers a challenge to its apprentices – to build new schools and facilities in Kenya!
Many thanks to Catherine, Steve and Glynn and Manchester Metropolitan University, Omar and Laura at the University of Manchester, and Paul, Jack and Oliver from BT for inspiring our students and widening their aspirations about the exciting field of engineering. We look forward to next time!
By Ruth Warburton
Enterprise Administrator
Manchester Academy