South Devon primary children celebrate World Space Week

Children from two South Devon primary schools celebrated World Space Week by designing and building space vehicles at a special day organised by South Devon University Technical College.

More than 20 Year Six pupils from Decoy Community Primary School and Landscove C of E Primary School were invited to a day packed full of fun activities as South Devon UTC hosted the hands-on day to promote science and engineering.

Pupils learnt exactly what engineering was and what type of engineer they might consider being in the future. Children took part in activities including a problem-solving game and a space engineering challenge where they designed and built a Lunar Rover Vehicle or satellite.

A laser cutting activity and meeting the Principal, Ian Crews, topped off the afternoon. The Year Six pupils had the opportunity to ask the staff at South Devon UTC any questions they may have had regarding a career in engineering, broadening their minds and ambitions.  

South Devon UTC, Newton Abbot’s specialist secondary school for young people with an interest in science and engineering, hosts three Primary Outreach days a year. The special days focus on either science, engineering or environment and offer local primary schools the opportunity to explore these STEM activities with state of the art facilities and get them excited about future possibilities in these fields. 

Ian Crews, Principal of South Devon UTC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Year Six pupils from primary schools across the region to South Devon UTC.  World Space Week is a great reason to get the youngsters fired up about science and engineering and give them a chance try out some fun activities that might spark an interest in these areas.”

Launched in 2015, South Devon UTC has a mission: ‘to establish a world class centre of excellence in engineering, water and the environment’ for any young people who have an interest in these fields in order to ‘develop a new generation of engineers, scientists and environmentalists’. Since then, South Devon UTC has given many local students aged 14-19 the opportunity to gain the qualifications, skills and experience needed to progress successfully to university, higher level apprenticeship or employment.

Principal Crews continued: “We treat our students like young adults. They wear suits, attend meetings and begin their days like working adults to prepare them for their future roles in the workplace. They are regularly out working for innovative companies like MB Aerospace, South West Water, and the Environment Agency to gain experience that will help them progress in their chosen careers.”

South Devon UTC will host the next primary outreach day on 13th March 2018, which will focus on Science as part of several activities the College will hold that week for National Science Week.

South Devon UTC is currently recruiting students for 2018/19 academic year. Young people with a flair for science and engineering due to start Year 10 or Year 12 in September 2018 should contact the college for more information. Call 01626 240201 or visit http://southdevonutc.org/