Hazlegrove’s Festival of STEM welcomes dinosaurs, helicopters and leading engineers

“We always think that if our festivals inspire just one child, to find their passion, then it will have been a success. This year’s festival appears to have inspired a multitude.” Feedback on the success of STEM Fest has been outstandingly positive.

Hazlegrove's Annual Festival this year was on the theme of STEM and feedback on the success of STEM Fest has been outstandingly positive from parents, children, visitors and staff. 

The activities throughout the week inspired and motivated the very youngest budding engineers and scientists to those who are already beginning to formulate a potential career path within STEM. As one Year 2 pupil remarked: " STEM week was amazing Mummy, it was like Christmas all over again!"

Head of Science, Mr Brown said: “STEM Fest has created some incredible memories for pupils throughout the whole school. The fascinating talks led by experts in the different areas of STEM gave us all an insight into what it is like to work in the industry. It also provided an awareness of the future possibilities and opportunities that our pupils may wish to pursue as they consider the career paths that lie ahead. 

"Above all, STEM Fest encouraged every pupil to actively engage with science and STEM through practical exploration and investigation. The energy and enthusiasm of the children to try out different ideas and offer solutions to problems without a fear of ‘getting it wrong’ was truly spectacular. 

"The ‘hands-on’ investigations that were available at breaktimes and lunchtimes in the ‘Fitzjames Wonderlab’ inspired scientific thought and questioning without the children realising it. Many of the challenges related to real-life issues that scientists are currently faced with, such as the dilemma of future fuels and education into healthy lifestyles.

“The investigations, practical lessons and workshops were designed to have an impact on each child and deliver a sense of awe and wonder. Through exploration of dry ice, making paperclips hover in the air and on top of the water, exploring and dissecting real organs, getting zapped by lightning, designing and launching an explosive rockets or watching the different constellations move across the night sky in the planetarium, there was an aspect of science to ignite a curiosity… and perhaps lead to something more.”

Head of DT, Mrs Barton said: “Hazlegrove’s STEM Fest was incredibly inspirational and eye-opening. The week included an explorer dome, a visit from a 12 foot dinosaur, close encounters of the Bug kind not to mention seeing the landing of a Wildcat helicopter on the school playing fields and countless inspirational talks from leading experts in their fields including Eline van der Velden who studied Nuclear Fusion before joining the team on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World, Nicola Pauvel who was named Best Woman Electrical and Mechanical Engineer at the European Women in Construction Awards, Old Hazlegrovian, Lawrence Gripper, now a Software Development Engineer at Microsoft and STEM ambassador Stefan Crossfield. 

"During one of the workshops, Stefan asked the children how many had been considering a career as an Engineer before STEM Fest – three children put up their hands. They then asked how many NOW are considering a career as an Engineer as a result of STEM week and well over two thirds of the children put up their hands’.

Mr Edwards, Director of Studies, summed up the enthusiasm felt around the school at the end of the festival week: “We always think that if our festivals inspire just one child, to find their passion, then it will have been a success. This year’s festival appears to have inspired a multitude.”