02 Apr 2007 | Ref. 092/2007
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Education Secretary Takes in BAE Systems Education Roadshow
Brough, United Kingdom - Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, joined young people at Rokeby Park Primary School, Hull when they were treated to a theatrical education performance and workshop from global defence and aerospace company BAE Systems.
The BAE Systems Schools Roadshow, now in its third year, is aimed at pupils aged 9-12 and will visit over 50 schools across the UK this year. It is designed to enthuse young people about engineering and promote the variety of career possibilities available. The show also explores the processes that BAE Systems’ engineers based locally at Brough followed to build the elaborate set used for the performance.
Divided into two elements, the BAE Systems in Schools Roadshow comprises an entertaining and informative theatre presentation, performed by a troupe of actors from CragRats, aimed at challenging stereotypes about the industry, as well as encouraging young people to be enterprising and to explore the opportunities a career in engineering can present.
The 30 minute theatre presentation was preceded by an interactive workshop. Drawing heavily on national curriculum aligned, interactive learning programmes, the workshop tasks students to design an unmanned vehicle that could be used in hypothetical disaster situations for example rescue victims of a volcano or survivors of an air crash in the Alps.
After seeing the performance and outcomes of the workshop, Alan Johnson MP said: ““To be an innovative, creative and forward-looking nation, we need a rich pool of skilled scientists and engineers. I am encouraged and delighted that BAE Systems is actively promoting engineering in local schools. The roadshow was tremendous fun and is an innovative and exciting way to bring engineering to life. I’m sure that it will encourage young people who have seen it to consider engineering as a career.”
Richard Hamer, BAE Systems Education Partnerships Director said; ''BAE Systems has had a long history of working with schools across the UK and values its links with young people and their teachers. The Roadshow is designed to bring engineering alive for young people. We hope it will be an exciting experience, as well as helping support curriculum activity in schools''.
Schools will also be invited to take part in a 'Schools Challenge' competition, an opportunity for young people to design an unmanned vehicle. The competition is open to all primary and secondary schools in the UK and challenges youngsters to discover more about engineering and science. For information on how to enter, schools can visit www.baesystems.com/education and click on 'Schools Challenge'. The students will be able to check out the story and set build diary in the Restricted Zone for inspiration and ideas. The competition closes on 29 June 2007.
Schools may also be able to benefit by requesting a visit from a BAE Systems Ambassador to help support engineering based curriculum activity within their school. The BAE Systems Science and Engineering Ambassadors scheme (SEAs) encourages employees to visit local schools up to three times a year to share their enthusiasm for engineering with young people. Ambassadors have the opportunity to go into schools to support the in-School roadshows, or simply respond to requests from schools for general support.
About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.
For further information contact:
Rebecca Brothers, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1482 664067 Fax: +44 (0) 1482 664669
rebecca.brothers@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384934 Mob: +44 (0)7801 718994
lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
