Children at West Jesmond Primary School (WJPS) built and tested their own water filter systems last week with the help of Newcastle University engineering students, as the school delivered its sixth STEM week.

The acronym STEM stands for the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and STEM weeks aim to teach and inspire young people by offering hands-on and relevant learning experiences.

Assistant headteacher and science specialist Tom Jones organised STEM week at WJPS which partnered with Benton Park Primary School to plan engaging STEM week activities at both schools. 

Statistics show that 90% of young people report increased engagement in science, technology, engineering and maths after working with STEM “ambassadors”.

One of the ambassadors visiting WJPS this week to discuss his work was Jesmond local Ian Dormer, who is the managing director of Rosh Engineering Limited and chair of the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT). “He is very passionate about promoting engineering in schools,” said Jones.

Jones, who received a Primary Science Teacher Award in 2016, is also a member of the PSTT, which works to improve the teaching and learning of primary science in UK schools. He said: “I am very passionate about science. STEM week is important because I feel that children should understand the relevance of science.”

STEM industries are still male-dominated and Jones said that this gender imbalance is a real issue within education. “The uptake of science, particularly after age 16, is really small among female students,” he said. “Teaching science regularly throughout younger years is important, because children decide what they like around age eight or nine. STEM week gives them useful skills and an opportunity to explore different fields.”

The Engineering students from Newcastle University visited year 6 children to tell them about water engineers and explained how they create solutions to unsafe drinking water. They then helped the children to build and test their own water filter systems.

Jones uses Andrea Beaty books, such as Ada Twist Scientist, to teach pupils about STEM-related subjects. He said that these educational and entertaining books combine STEM education with reading skills.

According to Jones, WJPS is dedicated to creating hands-on and relevant learning opportunities for every subject on the curriculum. “We also hold a local humanities week and an art and reading week,” he said.