Engineering at Erdington Academy: Students from Erdington Academy explored the exciting possibilities of a future career in engineering, during a visit to one of the region’s leading manufacturing training centres.
The group from Year 9 were selected to tour MAKE UK’s state-of-the-art Technology Hub in Aston after excelling in their Design and Technology tests at school. Team-building and problem-solving challenges also got students thinking like engineers.
It was part of the academy’s packed agenda for Enrichment Day, on Tuesday 29 September, which allowed multiple groups of students with different interests to visit colleges, universities and employers across the region.
Destinations included The Belfry Hotel & Resort, The Grand Hotel, University College Birmingham, Walsall College, BMet, Holiday Inn, South & City College Birmingham and Solihull College.
Robert Thompson, Head of Design and Technology at Erdington Academy, said: “The visit to MAKE UK gave students the opportunity to experience an environment that showcases the many different areas of engineering and manufacturing, while learning directly from people working in industry.
“Some of the manufacturing equipment they saw was completely new to them, while other technology was familiar from what they have used in school. It was a great mix and helped them see how the skills they are developing in the classroom can be applied in the workplace.”
MAKE UK’s Birmingham Technology Hub is a major engineering and manufacturing training campus, helping develop the skilled workforce needed by industry.
Student Deborah Obaro said: “Enrichment Day at Erdington Academy has allowed us to experience engineering in a different way. At MAKE UK we were forced to think outside the box and work together as teams.”
Her classmate Zephen Brown added: “MAKE UK has shown me that engineering is about a team working together to create things that can help everyone in everyday life.”
During the visit, the students were guided by experienced engineers including Mike Dimmack, a Technical Tutor at MAKE UK who works on outreach and educational programmes.
Mike said: “I think the trip has opened their eyes to the different facets of engineering. It has shown them how the academic subjects they study at school translate into hands-on work and real careers, while also demonstrating the importance of vocational education.
“It’s a great opportunity for young people to start thinking about where they would like their future careers to take them.
“These students have shown a lot of promise – they’re exactly the kind of potential future employees we want to encourage into engineering and manufacturing.”
Mr Thompson added: “I hope the visit has inspired many of these students to consider an engineering pathway, and to take advantage of the clubs and other opportunities we have available at school to pursue engineering at Erdington Academy.
“Seeing engineering in a real workplace brings the subject to life and shows students just where the skills they are learning now could take them in the future.”