The University of Greenwich has successfully completed a pilot STEM attainment-raising programme, which aimed to reignite interest in science and maths among young people from secondary schools in Kent.
The initiative, funded by the Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF) through the Office for Students (OfS) Uni Connect Programme, specifically targeted students who were disengaged with STEM subjects, helping them regain confidence, improve their performance in assessments, and raise their future aspirations.
The project, led by Cheryl Terry, Outreach Manager for UniConnect at the university, specifically targeted Year 8 and 9 students at Strood Academy and Leigh Academy Dartford.
Running during the summer term of 2024, the programme featured three interactive two-hour sessions, each supported by a STEM student ambassador.
The first session focused on myth-busting and practical applications of STEM in everyday life. “Our goal was to help students realise that they were already using STEM skills daily,” Cheryl explained. “For example, they learned that even checking the battery percentage on their phone involves maths.”
Students also took part in an engineering challenge, building straw bridges designed to support the weight of 100 pennies. “It was amazing to see students connect the dots between what they were doing and real-world STEM applications,” Cheryl noted, highlighting the excitement and competitiveness that the activity sparked.
In the second session, students explored data visualisation by creating charts from their own collected data. One group measured the height of all students in the room and used Mario characters to create a visual representation, demonstrating their ability to make data both meaningful and engaging.
The final session was a simulated race to the South Pole, where students worked in teams to plan their expedition, selecting appropriate clothing, food, and transport.
Feedback from both students and teachers was overwhelmingly positive. “A couple of students said they felt special and honoured to have been chosen to take part,” Cheryl shared. She also mentioned a student who had previously been a low school attendee but attended regularly to participate in the sessions. “Even the most resistant students were fully engaged by the end of the programme.”
As a celebration of their hard work, participants will be invited to visit the University of Greenwich campus in early autumn.
Following the pilot’s success, the university plans to expand the programme to five schools within the Leigh Academy Trust in the 2024/25 academic year. Additionally, the programme will seek to involve parents more actively to further support student engagement.
Gavin Delf, Kent and Medway Progression Federation, said, “KMPF is proud to support initiatives like the University of Greenwich’s STEM attainment raising pilot programme, which directly addresses the challenges many students face in engaging with science and maths. Seeing students reconnect with these subjects and gain confidence in their abilities is exactly the kind of outcome we aim to achieve through our partnership. This programme not only transforms students’ attitudes toward STEM but also opens up new pathways for their future education and careers.”
Schools interested in getting involved in the STEM programme in future years can contact Cheryl Terry at C.M.Terry@greenwich.ac.uk