AWE hosts Women in STEM afternoon for students in Years 8 and 9 

Students from Year 8 and 9 took part in a ‘Women in STEM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workshop yesterday, hosted and run by AWE.

The Year 8 and Year 9 students spent the afternoon taking part in a number of engineering and technical challenges, including programming a sphere to follow a maze layout, learning how to use a 3D printer, designing an efficient aerodynamic paper aeroplane, and building a customised egg container to protect an egg when dropped from a height.

The event was hosted and run by current apprentices at the AWE Skills Academy, and we were delighted to discover that two of the apprentices who joined us for the afternoon - Amelia and Poppy - were former pupils at The Hurst, having left us in 2019. AWE Quality Inspector Apprentice, Persey Salway explained why she felt the event was so important. “This programme helps highlights to young girls careers available to them in engineering that they may not have previously thought of. At AWE we offer apprenticeships for students in Quality Inspection and Electrical Engineering for students when they leave school at 16 and they come away with a full Foundation Degree."

Mrs Nicol, Assistant Head of Science said it had been a fantastic afternoon. “We would like to thank AWE for coming in today and giving our students a fantastic experience, allowing them to use their engineering and technical skills in a hands-on practical way. The girls have all really enjoyed the experience, and they have gained knowledge and new skills that they can use in their school work.”