Using STEM to raise achievement at KS4

David MellingBalshaw’s CE High School

Assistant Head I/C Engineering Specialist School Status

Balshaw’s CE High School•Situated in Leyland, Lancashire•11 to 16 voluntary controlled Church of

England High School•925 pupils on role• In 2009 81% 5 A*/C•65% 5 A*/C including Maths and English

Balshaw’s CE High School•An Engineering Specialist School since

2004•Redesignated September 2009•Last OFSTED June 2009• ‘Very good with outstanding features’

Balshaw’s CE High School in 2008

•59% A*/C including Maths and English•71% A*/C excluding Maths and English•OFSTED due and redesignation• Invited to be involved with the SSAT STEM

Pathfinder program

•After school STEM Club• Identify the pupils to be involved with a

specific focus•Give the club an exciting challenge linked to

the STEM subjects

Form a STEM Club

Form the STEM Club

•Recruit a group of motivated and appropriate staff.•Give staff time to plan and prepare•Involve an industrial partner•Make the Club feel special

Identify the pupils

•Use whatever criteria you want•Hold a launch event• Involve parents

Give the Club a challenge•Use a project that fits you, your pupils, your

colleagues and school•Spend some money•Keep it well resourced•Hold an event/celebration to finish

Balshaw’s STEM Club 2009

The aim of the project was to work with a group of C/D borderline Y11 boys to maximise the possibility of them reaching C or above in the STEM subjects plus English

The STEM Kart Project 2009How the project worked;•The group met after school for 12 sessions

leading up to their GCSE exams.•The sessions were focused on the building of a

off-road kart.•Each session involved 30mins of building the

kart and 30mins each of Science and Maths related to the kart.

The STEM Kart ProjectHow the project worked;•The pupils were be split into teams of 4.•Refreshments were made available at the start

of each session.•Pupils agreed to the STEM code of conduct•The project culminated with the STEM Grand

Prix.

The beginningThe project started with a visit to the manufacturer of the kart, Redwood Engineering. On returning to the school the kart kit was waiting for the pupils.