Building a 60 foot suspensions bridge, solving a grisly murder, building a wind turbine and programming a robot to destroy everything in its path – all in a day’s work for 300 school students from Conwy.
They were at a special event at Venue Cymru to promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), organised as part of the Llwyddon’n Lleol programme, funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund.
This aims to help young people across North Wales develop their career paths and the Venue Cymru event was designed to create awareness of the opportunities and the practical realities of the world of work.
It brought together over 300 students and their teachers from six secondary schools across Conwy county with representatives of the aviation, construction, energy, science and technical industries to learn how they go about tackling practical problems.
These were as diverse as constructing a real suspension bridge inside Venue Cymru, building a miniature wind turbine, investigating wildlife, exploring atomic science, forensic science and robotics.
The event was praised by Conwy County Councillor and former teacher Dewi Miles, whose Mostyn Ward includes Venue Cymru and who taught at one of the participating schools, Ysgol John Bright.
He said: “I think events like this are a must because they underline to parents that not everyone has to go to university – there are fantastic opportunities out there in terms of apprenticeships in industry and we need more of them.
“We only have to look out of the windows here at Venue Cymru to see the wind turbines and in here students are making their own mini wind turbines’
“They can see the relationship between the academic and the practical which they won’t necessarily do in the classroom and its enjoyable and gives them a chance to work with people they haven’t met before which is what you have to learn to do in work.”
Architect Steve Barber-Bailey, from Conwy firm Penrallt Consulting, was working with Emrys Roberts, of the Construction Industry Training Board, on the suspension bridge project and he said: “Making something liked this work gives some exposure into the realities of civil engineering.
“They have to work out how to put this together and then they have to walk across it so it introduces them to the safety aspects of the job as well – as an event I think it’s a marvellous idea.”
Eighteen-year-olds George Thelwell and Iwan Duffy, sixth formers at Ysgol John Bright, Llandudno, built and programmed a robot, under the supervision of Bangor University’s Technocamps staff, which successfully advanced down a bowls mat and smashed down a set of skittles.
George said: “I really didn’t think it would work as well as that. It’s been a pretty good day and we’ve enjoyed the robotics.”
Iolo Cowell, 17, from Conwy, a pupil at Ysgol Creuddyn, Colwyn Bay, was also involved in robotics and he said: “It’s been good and has given me a greater understanding of programming.
“Seeing the practical applications has been good. I want to do something with computers in future so this has been really useful.”
Neil Humphreys, Technology Teacher at Ysgol Bryn Eilian, Old Colwyn, said: “A lot of kids don’t really get what engineering is. They think it’s about making something on a lathe but this gives them a real insight into the opportunities and what it means in the real world.
“Days like this are great and I would like to see this extended to younger pupils as well as more training for teachers.
“You can tell when they’re enjoying themselves and this gets them out of themselves and working as a team.”
Jenni Edwards, Llwyddo’n Lleol Project Officer for Conwy and Denbighshire, said: “We want to get the students to understand the importance of STEM qualifications and of getting good grades and doing it through practical activities.
“It is vital in North Wales that we build a strong and skilled workforce because that will create a vibrant economy for the region and in turn create more opportunities for the future.
“We need young people who have the right skills, the skills that employers are looking for and events like this where they can work with professionals reinforces the message.
“They are meeting the people who do these things as their day job and tackling real life experiences and problems.
“They’re also seeing that employers don’t just look for qualifications but also for skills and social skills like the ability to work as part of a team.
“This has been very successful. The young people are enjoying it and enjoying the challenges and it gives them a lot to go back and think about.”
This day was followed by an evening event where students and their parents had the opportunity to discuss future career opportunities and career pathways with organisations such as Airbus, North Wales Police, Fire Service, Heath Service, Conwy County Borough Council, colleges, universities, training providers and Careers Wales.
