Careers Days proved a big hit in York and Middlesbrough

The final two STEM careers days for this academic year were held in Middlesbrough and York on the 3^rd and 10^th March respectively.

These two sessions were for the younger age groups (11-14 year olds) – sessions for 14-16 year olds and A level students had already taken place.

Students from Wetherby High School enjoyed the day and their teacher, Jenny McCartney said, I would like to thank you and your students for putting on the STEM day for our students yesterday, they were truly inspired and came back so eager to talk about what they had done and what they wish to do in the future. “We are definitely going to take triple science; we didn’t know that there were so many interesting jobs" which is fantastic to hear. And their body lotion smelt lovely!”

Pupils at the YSOC facility taking part in the Smith & Nephew adhesives  activity

Joy Parvin, CIEC Director, is already planning for a similar series of days for 2016-2017.

The Careers Days this year were generously supported by Cogent and other, local, industries delivered the various workshops. If your company would like to be involved in either sponsoring all or part of next year’s workshops or become involved by delivering workshops showcasing an aspect of your industry please get in touch with Joy Parvin at ciec@york.ac.uk.

Joy was delighted with the feedback from this year’s events “Many of the schools that have taken part have now been inspired to think about STEM careers. At a time when there is a serious skills shortage in the process industries this is very encouraging.”

Claire Seeley joins the CIEC team as the new Advisory Teacher working in Royston

CIEC are delighted to welcome a new member to the team. Claire Seeley joins CIEC to deliver the CCI project in the Royston area in partnership with Johnson Matthey.

Claire explains in her own words her extensive primary teaching experience and her hopes for building on the strong links between CIEC, Johnson Matthey and local schools in the Royston area.

“I have been a teacher for over twenty years in a wide variety of contexts including both inner city and rural schools. For me, I feel the best learning is happening when children bring in something from home linked to our explorations in the classroom. That's when I know that science as caught their imagination!

Over the last five years, alongside my classroom practice I have been extremely fortunate to work alongside teachers as a Primary Science Consultant; providing both a wide range of CDP and ITT courses across East Anglia - both through Science Learning Centres and as an independent consultant.  I am a also hub leader for Primary Science Quality Mark in Suffolk and am the secretary of the Association of Science Education Primary Committee. 

My work as a consultant has included working with a number of Educational charities, writing materials and providing bespoke training courses; working with them to improve their services to schools. Latterly I have been working with industry on various primary science education initiatives, providing advice and support to create materials for use by primary schools. I am really interested using children's natural curiosity in science to boost their aspirations for the future. I am looking forwards to working with CIEC and learning more about developing meaningful links between industry and education.”

By Claire Seeley, CCI Advisory Teacher for the Royston area