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STEM Talk - Bournville & Barnwell Primary

James Dornor

20 May 2022

F1 comes to primary schools in Weston via James Dornor's voluntary STEM Talk

Promoting  STEM subjects and diversity, in primary schools in Weston-super-Mare voluntary following on from his talk at the Weston College in early January of 2022

 

Half-day visits to Bournville and Barnwell Primary schools involving Y5 and 6 pupils were arranged, with James Dornor one of Mercedes AMG Petronas F teams engineers who has worked with Jenson Button, George Russell and Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE , delivering a presentation themed around F1 motor sports, highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).  The students learnt about engineering, how engineers shape the world we live in and also how the Mercedes team, and Lewis Hamilton in particular, were working to promote diversity in motorsport.

 

During the ‘hands on’ sessions, students got to see and hold a race suit along with a set of Lewis’s race gloves and boots.  Pupils also got to try on one of Lewis’s race helmets worn during one of his many Championship winning seasons.


The second half of each school’s session was an interactive activity with Y6 pupils, that centred on creative design.  Prizes were awarded for the ‘top two’ student designs – as judged by the school staff - and each student was given some F1 racing stickers and driver race cards to keep.  These were donated by the James & the Mercedes F1 team and the local Mercedes car franchise.

 

The aim was to leave the Y6 students with a lasting and positive impression - one that will help end their last year in primary school on a high - and hopefully armed with a bit more information and inspiration about the world of engineering and the career opportunities ahead of them.

  

As a further follow-up, for those students progressing to Y6 we are working with the local Mercedes car showroom in W-s-M to arrange a visit where pupils will have the opportunity to view the cars on show and to look behind the scenes of a working garage/showroom.  They will have the chance to meet and speak to a range of staff who work as mechanics, in sales, events and promotions.  


The primary school visits form part of work through James volunteering – with our initial activity made through a connection with Weston College and James’ career path talk offering support and encouragement for engineering students.  We are currently looking at ways in which to engage with secondary schools.


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