Marleigh pupils inspired by Cambridge STEM leaders
Marleigh Primary Academy celebrated its second annual STEM Day with visits from leading Cambridge organisations to deliver inspiring STEM workshops to all key stage groups.
The academy, part of Anglian Learning, established its annual STEM Day back in 2023 as part of British Science Week. The day aims to raise awareness and celebrate STEM with pupils of all ages and backgrounds.
The day’s activities were funded by a Kick-Start Grant provided by the British Science Foundation. Marleigh Primary Academy welcomed Cambridge Science Centre and AstraZeneca to run a range of workshops and interactive shows with this year’s theme of ‘Time’.
Pupils from Fen Ditton Community Primary School, also part of Anglian Learning, joined in with the activities provided as part of an outreach opportunity.
Clare Draper, Curriculum Development Lead at Marleigh Primary Academy, said “Our annual STEM Day intends to spark enthusiasm in all our pupils and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM later in life. We have the privilege of being supported by local organisations, such as Cambridge Science Centre and AstraZeneca, who are role models to pupils when it comes to reaching high in STEM.”
Megha Kishore, Director, Early CVRM Science Communications at AstraZeneca, said, “I enjoyed talking to the pupils about making medicines and what we do at AstraZeneca. They asked insightful questions and had many new ideas for what the laboratories of the future could be doing.
“A big thank you and congratulations to the staff for creating this platform for inspiring the next generation of STEM aspirants.”
Dr Joanne Staines, Science Communicator at Cambridge Science Centre, said “Cambridge Science Centre was pleased to support Marleigh Primary Academy’s STEM Day. Our interactive shows and workshops allow children to explore science and feel confident to join in.
“Experiencing science in action can provide the transformational moment that might set a young person on a path to pursue science in the future. Cambridge Science Centre is proud to be part of initiatives that promote different ways to engage with science”.
Lauren Woods, Parent Governor at Marleigh Primary Academy, said “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of being able to join the academy for their STEM Day. The guest speakers from Cambridge Science Centre were particularly great and the children were so engaged”.
British Science Week, which runs for two weeks in March each year, aims to raise pupils’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) following a skills gap in pupils who pursue STEM subjects post-16.
