Start of a STEM journey

As an ITT (initial teacher training) student my weeks are full of new and rewarding experiences.  This was exemplified last week which started with a burst of energy and excitement from 50 enthusiastic Year 7 students. They took part in the AUTOMAKE Best Virtual STEM Day Challenge. Organized in collaboration with PPMA BEST and Automate UK, the event introduced our young engineers to a series of fun, yet challenging activities designed to develop their STEM skills.

One of the most engaging and daunting parts of the challenge involved students giving in front of camera, a 40-second elevator pitch—an important communication skill in any professional field, especially in STEM. The students were given the opportunity to design and develop a creative invention, which they later presented to their peers. This task, which encouraged confidence and clarity, rewarded effective speaking, and we’re thrilled to congratulate Levi for winning Best Elevator Pitch. His energetic and enthusiastic presentation impressed the judges and set a high standard for future challenges.

However, the day wasn’t just about individual achievements. Teamwork and collaboration were key to many of the challenges. A strong team effort from Logan, Shae, Ruairi, Finley, and Jenson led them to victory in the Eco Factory Roller Challenge, where they were crowned Eco Factory Roller Champions! Their ability to think critically, problem-solve, and work together efficiently demonstrated the core values of STEM education—innovation, teamwork, and creativity.

This event marks the beginning of these students’ STEM journeys, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and achievements. The day highlighted not only their potential as future engineers and innovators but also the importance of developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership—key attributes in the STEM industries.

Mosslands School extends a big thank you to PPMA BEST and Automate UK for providing this incredible opportunity for our students to explore STEM in a dynamic and interactive way. With such a strong start, we can’t wait to see where their STEM journey takes them next!

 

Year 7 “Today I had the courage to make a speech, give a presentation and encouraged people to get out of their shy zone”   

An example of one student taking huge steps in developing his communication skills and building team empathy. We are so impressed with his efforts.