STEM Ambassador Opportunities – February 2016 – Bristol, Bath and Somerset

Welcome to February’s STEM Opportunities newsletter.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities on this newsletter then get in touch. We will be able to provide more info and put you in touch with the right people. Opportunities in Somerset are highlighted in red.

Don’t forget to tell us about other activities you’ve been doing. This could have been arranged through your company/department/friends/other STEM providers – we like to be in the know!

Feedback

If you’ve taken part in any STEM activity recently, regardless of whether it’s been organised through us or another route then please click hereto fill in the feedback form.

Opportunities in Secondary Schools

February 2016

Winterbourne International Academy, South Gloucestershire (BS36 1JL) – ASAP – Give a talk to Year 11 DT students about SMART Materials and their applications in industry.

Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon (TA14 6UG) – 10th February, all day – Take part in the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme Engineering Around the World, supporting students as they take part in a variety of STEM workshops throughout the day. All materials and support provided.

Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy, South Gloucestershire (BS34 8SF) – 23rd February, 3-4pm – Ambassadors with a science background are invited to take part in a Tea with a Scientist event for interested pupils after school. The school would particularly be interested in biologists or chemists.

Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe (TA4 2NE) –24th February (Yr8), all day or half day – Run a 40-min interactive discussion about your STEM industry, including (if possible) a typical mock task from your work.

Nailsea School, North Somerset (BS48 2HN) – 25th February, 6-8pm – Run a stand with hands on activities at a STEM evening for all students, their parents and local primary school children.

Worle Community School, Weston-super-Mare (BS22 8XX) – 26th February (all day) – Run a STEM workshop as part of the school’s off-timetable day for Year 10 students. The workshop would need to be around 40 mins long and would be repeated with groups of 30 students. Any topic welcome.

Fairfield High School, Bristol (BS7 9NL) – w/c 29th February – Maths Week: Run a workshop on an application of maths. Dates/times flexible in the week and it’s up to you which year group you’d like to work with (Year 7-11). If you have an idea for a workshop that you’d like us to help you develop please get in touch.

Broadlands Academy, Keynsham (BS31 2DY) – 24th February, 3.15-4.30pm – Run a workshop which includes problem solving skills for the school’s Gifted and Talented group.

Bedminster Down School, Bristol (BS13 7DQ) – End of February (dates flexible) – The school are looking for ambassadors who work in/research physics to take part in a skype careers talk. This is ideal for ambassadors who can’t get out to different schools easily as it is an activity from your desk!

March 2016

Maiden Beech Academy, Crewkerne (TA18 8HG) – all day - Take part in the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme Engineering Around the World, supporting students as they take part in a variety of STEM workshops throughout the day. All materials and support provided.

Ralph Allen School, Bath (BA2 7AD) – 3rd March, 5.30-7pm – Run a stand at Ralph Allen’s award winning STEM Community Evening. Pupils from the school, local primary schools and members of the community are all invited to find out about STEM in the local area. This is a great opportunity to share your work or research with a range of people.

Fairfield High School, Bristol (BS7 9NL) – w/c 7th March – Science Week: Run a workshop on any science related topic. Dates/times flexible in the week and it’s up to you which year group you’d like to work with (Year 7-11). If you have an idea for a workshop that you’d like us to help you develop please get in touch.

The Blue School, Wells (BA5 2NR) – Year 10 Careers Fair, 11:00am – 4:30pm – Ambassadors have the chance to host a seminar and/or host a stand, and talk to students and parents about careers in STEM. Event run in conjunction with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

Mangotsfield School, South Gloucestershire (BS16 9LH) – 9th March, 10.45-3.45 – Take part in a speed networking activity with Year 10/11s to inspire more students about different STEM careers available. You will be speaking to different groups throughout the day. After school sixth form students will have a brief time to meet you too.

St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School, Bristol (BS14 9LS) – 9th March, all day – Run a STEM workshop for Year 7 or 8 classes (repeated throughout the day) as part of a STEM day. We are working with science, maths and IT departments so all STEM topics welcome. *Alternatively*, you can also support activities that the school are running.

Churchill Academy, North Somerset (BS25 5QN) – 14th March, all day – Give a talk about your career in STEM for classes of Year 7 pupils. Any activities or demos welcome too. The talk would need to be up to an hour (this can include a Q&A or short activity) and repeated throughout the day with different groups.

Redland Green School, Bristol (BS6 7EH) – 15th or 18th March, 1.05-1.50pm – Give a lunchtime talk about your work/research in STEM for interested pupils.

Swanmead Community School, Ilminster (TA19 OBL) – 16/17th March (date & time TBC) – Support the student STEM fair for Year 7 & 8 students, part of the school’s British Science Week Celebrations.

Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol (BS13 0RL) – 16th March, 8.40-9.40am – Take part in a STEM speed networking session for Year 10 students as part of the school’s British Science Week Celebrations.

Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol (BS13 0RL) – 16th March – Run a STEM workshop for a year 7 or 8 class as part of the school’s British Science Week Celebrations. If you can’t do this day, get in touch with your availability 14-18th March as they are flexible.

Bristol Free School, Bristol (BS10 6NJ) – 23rd March, all day – Support the school’s space-themed STEM day for the whole school. Activities tbc but they will be looking for ambassadors with knowledge of space to support students throughout the day.

Redland Green School, Bristol (BS6 7EH) – 23rd March, 12.30-2.15pm – Take part in Tea with a Scientist for sixth form students and year 11s.

April 2016

Cotham School, Bristol (BS6 6DT) – 14th April, 3-4pm – Take part in a Tea with a Scientist activity for interested pupils after school. The school are particularly interested in ambassadors with a physics background.

Oasis Academy John Williams, Bristol (BS14 9BU) – 15th April, 12-4pm – Take part in a careers event for Year 10 students. Ambassadors will be asked to talk informally to groups of students and answering their questions about your job and career path.

Bristol Brunel Academy, Bristol (BS15 1NU) – 22nd April, 3-6pm – Run a stand at a STEM Careers Fair for pupils and their parents.

St Mark’s School, Bath (BA1 6ND) – 29th April, all day – Run a STEM workshop for students in Year 7-9 for their “Futures Day” where they get to find out about future careers in STEM.

May 2016

Cotham School, Bristol (BS6 6DT) – 5th May, 3-4pm - Take part in a Tea with a Scientist activity for interested pupils after school. The school are particularly interested in ambassadors with a physics background.

Brymore Academy, Canninton (TA5 2NB) – 5th May, 5:00pm - 8:00pm – Have a stand at the careers evening – Goals & Opportunities. Focused on Year 10s, this event at Brymore - an all-boy, state-funded boarding school - will allow you the chance to interact with young people having a unique education with a strong agricultural focus. Get in touch to find out more!

Ongoing

Redland Green School, Bristol (BS6 7EH) – ongoing – The school’s science club are looking for projects they can do and then enter into the National Science + Engineering Competition. If you have an idea for a project you could help launch, get in touch.

Cotham School, Bristol (BS6 6DT) – Wednesdays, 3-4pm – The school run a Tech Club for Girls and are looking for female role models to run tech/coding projects (either a one-off or ongoing).

Hayesfield Girls’ School, Bath (BA2 3LA) – ongoing – The school are looking for someone to run some Teacher CPD to help teachers learn python. If you have ideas for projects they can run in school, that would be a bonus!

North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College, Weston-super-Mare (BS22 8NL) – Wednesdays, 3.30-5pm – The school host regular careers seminars for their students and are looking to increase the number of seminars about STEM Careers. You could give a talk, run an activity or show a demo to help explain what you do in your career. The session wouldn’t need to be the full 1 ½ hours and dates are flexible.

Digitech Studio School, Warmley (BS30 8XQ) – ongoing, Tuesdays/Thursdays, 3.30-4.30pm –support the school’s enrichment programme by giving talks, running workshops or taking part in Tea with a Scientist/Engineer. If you’d like to get involved, get in touch with your availability and what you’d like to do.

Writhlington School, Radstock (BA3 3NQ) – ongoing, Tues or Wed, 3.30pm (dates flexible) – Give a talk about your career for interested students after school. The school are looking for someone with a maths, physics or chemistry background. Ideally the talk would also include a practical activity for the students to do.

EDF Inspire – STEM Days in Somerset

As part of Inspire, EDF’s Hinkley Point C school’s engagement programme, we are working with EDF and STEMworks to provide STEM Ambassadors with opportunities to help out with STEM days in schools across Somerset. You will be helping groups of Yr8 or Yr9 students with a hands-on STEM activity and discussing how STEM skills are vital to your job. Sessions are usually a whole day (some may be shorter) and all materials are provided – no preparation is required! Get in touch about any of the upcoming dates for more information:

  • Haygrove School, Bridgwater (TA6 7HW) - 03/02/2016
  • St. Dunstan's School, Glastonbury (BA6 9BY) - 23/02/2016
  • Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe (TA4 2NE) - 24/02/2016
  • Court Fields Community School, Wellington (TA21 8SW) - 26/02/2016
  • Robert Blake Science College, Bridgwater (TA6 6AW) – 29/02/2016 and 02/03/2016
  • The Kings of Wessex Academy, Cheddar (BS27 3AW) - 01/03/2016
  • Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon (TA14 6UG) - 04/03/2016
  • Wadham School, Crewkerne (TA18 7NT) - 07/03/2016
  • Huish Episcopi School, Langport (TA10 9SS) - 08/03/2016
  • Frome Community College(BA11 2HQ) - 15/03/2016
  • Danesfield C of E School, Williton (TA4 4SW) – 21/03/2016
  • Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon (TA14 6UG) – 23/03/2016
  • Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe (TA4 2NE) – 04/05/2016

Opportunities in Primary Schools

February 2016

St Mary's C of E Primary School, Thornbury(BS35 1HJ) – Saturday 27th February, 10-1pm – Run an interactive stand at a STEM fair for pupils and the local community.

Churchill Academy, North Somerset (BS25 5QN) – February – Run a STEM workshop for a group of local primary school children (sessions hosted at Churchill Academy) as part of their “Month of STEM”. Any STEM topic welcome – get in touch for more info.

March 2016

Meadowbrook Primary School, South Gloucestershire (BS32 8TA) – 11-20th March – The school are doing a “Brain Art” project during science week and are looking for ambassadors with a neuroscience/psychology background to talk about the brain during this week.

Bridge Learning Campus (Primary), Bristol (BS13 0RL) – 16th March – Run a STEM workshop for a year 5 or 6 class as part of the school’s British Science Week Celebrations. If you can’t do this day, get in touch with your availability 14-18th March as they are flexible.

Filton Avenue Primary School, Bristol (BS7 0XZ) – 21st to 24th March – Ambassadors with expertise in space topics are invited to run a workshop or give a short talk for any year group during Science Week.

April 2016

Meadowbrook Primary School, South Gloucestershire (BS32 8TA) – 11th April-27th May – Ambassadors with an interest in space are invited to school to talk or run a workshop about any space topic (dates flexible).

Ongoing

Meadowbrook Primary School, South Gloucestershire (BS32 8TA) – ongoing – The school are running a number of chemistry projects for Year 6 children and are looking for ambassadors with expertise in this area to help come up with some ideas for workshops.

Shield Road Primary School, Bristol (BS7 0RR) – ongoing – Ambassadors with expertise in space and the solar system are invited to support the Year 5 class by giving talks, helping in a lesson or running a workshop. They will be covering the following topics: describing the sun, Earth and moon,what causes night and day, eclipses and seasons, movements of the moon and the sun in the solar system.

Oasis Academy Longcross Primary, Bristol (BS11 0LP) – ongoing – The school is looking for Ambassadors to help enrich of the following science topics: simple forces, incl. magnetism (Yr3), sound (Yr4), gravity, the sun & moon (Yr5) and light & the eye (Yr6). This is to help teach these topics but also to enthuse their pupils about science.

Blaise Primary School, Bristol (BS10 7EJ) – ongoing – The school is looking for people who would like to run activities about materials, e.g. comparing materials based on simple physical properties, changing the shape of solid objects, thinking about suitability of everyday materials for tasks, etc. This is to help teach these topics but also to enthuse pupils about science. Dates/times negotiable.

Other Opportunities

Bath Central Library, Bath (BA1 5AN) – 15-22nd February – Run an activity around palaeontology for primary school children during half term. Dates/length of workshop is flexible, just in get in touch with your ideas.

Chaos – does your work have you interacting with chaos theory and/or chaotic systems? We are at the start of a project which will introduce the ideas of chaos into a workshop for schools and would be interested to hear from any Ambassador with experience in this area. Get in touch to discuss!

Prince’s Trust xl Programme Support, various locations (*NEW schools added*) – ongoing – An opportunity has come available for STEM ambassadors to work with local students in challenging circumstances. The xl programme for students focuses on employability and life skills and the Prince’s Trust are looking for STEM Ambassadors who could run short, hands-on workshops to engage the students in STEM topics. There are a number of opportunities at schools locally for pupils out of mainstream education. Opportunities are available at:

  • Bristol: Bedminster Down School, Knowle DGE Learning Centre, Bridge Learning Campus, Redland Green School, St Brendan’s Sixth Form College
  • South Gloucestershire: Marlwood School, Downend School, Yate International Academy
  • North Somerset: Worle Community School, Backwell School
  • Somerset: Heathfield Community School, Ansford Academy, Frome College

If you’re looking for a new challenge as a STEM ambassador, please get in touch for more information.

Your Green Future, UWE (BS16 1QY) – 17th/18th May – This event for secondary schools inspires around 500 students every year about sustainability and careers in a low carbon economy. Your Green Future are looking for companies to support workshops, run a stand in the exhibition space or sponsor part of the event. For more info please get in touch.

Imagineering at the Royal Bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet – 1-4 June 2016 – Last year over 26,000 people experienced the Imagineering zone at the Royal Bath & West Show – an exhibition for children and families highlighting the range of opportunities available through STEM across the West and South West of England. In 2016 the organisers are looking for companies to sponsor the Imagineering zone and provide an interactive stand to engage the thousands of people attending England’s biggest country show. For more information, get in touch!

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Bath (BA1 2HN) – ongoing – The Institution runs workshops for local children on the second Saturday of every month and outreach workshops at various locations around Bath during the week. The workshops are based on a variety of STEM topics and you can commit to as many sessions as you like. Contact Paul Thomas () to volunteer and for more info go to:

Training and Awards

People Like Me – helping girls see their future in STEM, Bristol & Bath Science Park (BS16 7FR) – 25th February - The People Like Me resources from WISE will equip you with materials that will help you show girls from a diverse range of backgrounds that, if they continue with at least one STEM subject post-16, they are likely to have better prospects and more career choice. STEM Ambassadors are able to access *free* training on the use of the People Like Me resources at our training event, however places are limited so sign up soon at

Extension Training, BRLSI, Bath (BA1 2HN) – 16th March – We will be holding a training session for Ambassadors to give you the opportunity to get some knowledge and ideas for running your own STEM activities. To register for this event, go to

The Telegraph UK STEM Awards 2016 – This is an opportunity for undergraduates to present world-changing ideas to industry leaders, and be in for a chance of winning £25,000! There are 5 categories available: Design in the Built Environment, Energy, Healthcare, Innovation, and Aerospace. Whilst not a STEM Ambassador activity in itself, this opportunity presents undergraduate STEM Ambassadors with a chance to be innovative, creative and compelling – all skills we value in our Ambassadors! For more information, visit

Contact Us

Ellie Cripps (Bristol & Bath) –

Liz Lister (Somerset) –

Tel: 01275 474948