STEM Teacher Newsletter

September 2014

Happy New [Academic] Year!

In this newsletter we will introduce you to the STEM highlights to watch out for this year as well as opportunities coming up soon.

We are very much looking forward to working with you again this year – just drop us a line if there is anything you would like to discuss in terms of STEM, as well as ambitions, employability and careers.

STEM Reception 2014

Join us to celebrate the inspiring work of STEM Ambassadors and STEM Teachers across Bristol, Bath & Somerset

Our annualSTEM Reception and Awards are a chance to celebrate and reward some of the greatest STEM goings-on from all across our region.Join us at Bristol Zoo on the evening of the30th Septemberto find out what people have been up to across the region, and get to know some of the most dedicated and enthusiastic STEM Ambassadors and STEM Teachers around.

To sign up for a free ticket visit

STEM Awards 2014 – nominate now!

We need your nominations for a STEM award so that we can reward the best of the STEM activities in the region, and also put people forward to for national recognition through the STEMNET Annual Awards which will happen this Autumn.

If you would like to nominate STEM School of the Year, STEM Teacher of the Year or STEM Event of the Year then visit and if you would like to nominate a STEM-themed club for an award, please visit Remember - you have to be in it to win it so feel free to nominate yourself or someone else.

If you have experienced an especially inspiring STEM Ambassador interaction this year, you can also nominate in the Ambassador award categories. See for more information on these categories.

STEM Planning / STEM Clubs planning

A great part of our job is to help teachers plan their STEM activities for the year; this could be anything including planning lesson support, project work, lunchtime talks, careers events and off timetable days. We have also helped a number of schools to plan their STEM club programme week by week.Get in touch to find out more!

STEM Activity Feedback

With so many activities involving STEM Ambassadors happening across the region, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences of working with our volunteers. After an activity, please fill in our online feedback form, it’ll only take only 5 minutes and we use your feedback to help continually improve the service we provide -

Planning anything for Bristol’s year as European Green Capital?

Bristol is European Green Capital in 2015, in recognition of its environmental achievements, future commitments and ability to inspire others. There will be opportunities for schools to get involved in all sorts of green-themed activities throughout the year, but if you are planning any green-themed activities of your own in 2015 then please let us know, we’d love to help you make them really great.Get in touch to find out more about Bristol Green Capital 2015.

Subsidised Engineering Shows

science made simple, an award winning science communication company, will be visiting schools in the South Weston 7th - 10th October 2014 with their engineering showsIzzy's Incredible Adventure(KS1),Who wants to be a superhero?(KS2) andEngineering for Life: Cradle to Grave(KS3/4)

A show day can comprise of up to three performances. This whole day of shows is available to schools for just £75+VAT thanks to funding from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (normal price starts at £525 +VAT!) The shows are performed in the school hall and can be presented to as many students as you choose to bring to the venue.

Priority Bookingwill be given to schools which:

  • have not benefited from IET or Tomorrows Engineer’s funding in the last three years
  • are able to host the full three performances of up to two different shows in a day
  • have audiences of over 100 students
  • can invite their local primary schools to join one show

Get in touch to find out more about getting these excellent shows to your school.

Raspberry Pi Competition - help people lead healthier lives

PA Consulting’s Raspberry Pi Competition is challenging entrants to invent something that will help people lead healthier lives.

This could range from wearable technologies that ensure patients take their medication on time, to a health and fitness programme tailored to an individual’s needs, or a system which could streamline a hospital’s processes to make it more efficient.It is a very broad challenge that gives entrants the scope to work on something they are really passionate about.

Teams have until 30 January 2015 to submit their projects. The first 100 teams to enter the competition with a starter kit of equipment worth £75, which includes a Raspberry Pi computer. For more information and to register your interest visit

I’m A Scientist Get Me Out Of Here!

I’m A Scientist Get Me Out Of Here!will return this November (10th–21st), withstudents taking part in moderated webchats with real scientists. For the next round, teachers should register to take part before 22nd September at

I’m A Scientist Get Me Out Of Here will return again in the spring (9th–20th March 2015) and summer (15th–26th June 2015). I'm an Engineer Get Me Out Of Here!returns in March 2015.

Go4SET

Students in Years 8 and 9 can participate in Go4SET projects this year, including a special electronics themed project which will have students working with mentors to build prototype electronics solutions to problems that the students identify. The launch events, where teams meet their mentors and receive instruction on the project and how to manage it, are in October and November. One Go4SET team (six students) costs £200 (+VAT) and it’s £100 per additional Go4SET team at the same school. Get in touch to find out more!

Planning a collapsed timetable day?

The CREST Discovery Award is a new CREST Award aimed at young people aged 11-14 and is ideal for collapsed time-table days. The Community Garden Challenge ( ) and the Practical Action activities Beat the Flood and Squashed Tomato Challenge ( are both available online for you to download and use for free, and we will also be providing free training for teachers to help you run a DIY Faraday Challenge Day ( from the Institution of Engineering and Technology

The CREST Discovery Award itself costs £3 per pupil, but we can help you through the process of setting these activities up in your school as part of our free STEM advisory service. Get in touch to find out more!

DIY Faraday Challenge Day training

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is funding us to run interactive workshops for teachers and STEM Ambassadors, to train you in how to successfully deliver the popular DIY Faraday Challenge Day in school. Dates for this training are to be confirmed but we hope to run two sessions in the region during the autumn term. Get in touch to find out more!

That’s all for now, looking forward to hearing from you about your ideas for this academic year!

Best wishes,