King Edward VI Foundation’s five partner primary schools has culminated in exciting activities run by the Access and Participation department. To date, children have experienced a broad range of lessons across our schools and visits including Birmingham Airport and The Exchange.
In celebration of Birmingham Tech Week, pupils spent an immersive day with entrepreneurs and experts bringing robots to life through coding, learning about career opportunities in technology through ‘speed networking’ and finally, how technology can have a positive impact on the environment.
Focused on careers-related learning, pupils also spent a day at a dedicated learning hub in Birmingham Airport. Working in groups, pupils presented business plans on launching their own airline, were introduced to career pathways in the aviation industry, and explored ‘forces in flight’.
Pupils enjoyed STEM masterclasses with Natalie Samuels, Chemistry teacher at Handsworth School for Girls, learning about the periodic table and the composition of atoms, with many experiencing a lesson in a science lab and using Bunsen burners for the first time.
Primary schools also got creative in art masterclasses led by Sophie Lester, Head of Art at Handsworth School for Girls and FLE for Access & Participation. Linked to Year 5’s curriculum topics, workshops included the creation of a ‘Staffordshire hoard’ of treasure using ceramics and adornments to explore what a modern day ‘time capsule’ might look like, made clay-based ‘dragon eyes’ based on monsters in Beowulf, and used sculptural techniques to produce collective portraiture work based on an exploration of ‘self’.
“I have very much enjoyed creating bespoke workshops that align with the Year 5 curriculum and differing school contexts and liaising with our partner school staff throughout the planning and delivery stages of our creative partnerships.” Sophie Lester, Head of Art and FLE for Access & Participation.
