Nominated by deputy head, Richard Thompson, Springwood High School won ‘Outstanding Commitment to STEM’ in the inaugural Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Education Awards.

“The category we entered celebrated the institutions that have developed and supported a wide range of exceptional science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, and which have built projects that promote the importance of STEM,” explained Mr Thompson, who is also Lead for Science across WNAT.

“The judges considered each entrant’s approach and offering of STEM learning, examples of success from STEM delivery, and any plans for developing their STEM provision for the future. Another key consideration was how STEM is integrated into other areas of learning.

“I produced a report that detailed how the school achieved the criteria. This was an easy task as our offering is both varied and wide.”

One of the school’s many strengths is its STEM Club, which is coordinated by STEM Lead Victoria Mann. 

“Our STEM Club targets students of all abilities,” said Mr Thompson. “It runs over three sessions and is led by Miss Mann, with support from colleagues across several departments, each working to support different STEM projects.

“We run throughout the year, with three sessions a week, and this ensures access and opportunity for as many students as possible. Typically we have had over 100 students take part in extracurricular STEM activities, with an average of over 60 students taking part in regular weekly sessions. 

“We also run bonus, short-term activities for our members, such as building a working wind turbine  or completing at home or on-line challenges.”

Other recent STEM projects have included the mathematics of scaling dinosaur footprints, building water wheels, engineering robotic hands, extracting DNA, growing bacteria, and participating in engineering contests – one of which saw the entrants design and create a working miniature satellite that fitted inside a drinks can. In addition, Springwood students achieved several awards in the British Physics Olympiad, with one awarded gold.

Among many STEM events at the school are the annual STEM Awards, STEM Fair, and STEM lectures, as well as regular trips.

“Parental feedback has told us that the value we are placing on STEM via participation, awards and celebration events is having a positive impact on students’ self esteem, sense of belonging and confidence,” continued Mr Thompson. “This is, in turn, promoting more and more involvement in STEM clubs and activities via peer encouragement.”

The EDP Norfolk Education Awards ceremony took place at Barnham Broom Hotel on October 12, when Springwood maths teacher Josh Cunningham was on hand to represent the school and collect the winning trophy and certificate, along with a bottle of Champagne.

“I think awards like this are important to staff, particularly, who dedicate so much of their time to ensure students have a great experience of STEM,” added Mr Thompson. “In a word, we feel proud.”