Network Rail STEM Lab
Interact with Network Rail employees and engage in a range of STEM-related activities linked to the rail industry.

Overview
Network Rail has created a dedicated space allowing schools and youth organisations to come in and interact with their employees. They aim to inspire children through activities showing that the rail and engineering industry can be diverse and fun, whilst developing both their technical and essential skills.
Activities include:
Ozobot activity courses - Create your own track for our mini robots (Ozobots) and code them to perform different actions using coloured markers. You will then learn how to code the robot correctly in line with different rail-related scenarios.
Bridge/tower Building – Work in a team to create a bridge or tower suitable for the project specification given. Learn to manage your budget as you’ll be able to purchase ‘add-ons’ to make your project stand out from the rest.
Network Rail aim to show that both their company and industry are attainable by all regardless of gender, ethnicity and social background, breaking any pre-existing stereotypes they may have.
Details
- School subject
-
- Technology/computing
- Curriculum links
-
- Engineering
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Technology & design - Manufacturing
- Group size
- Small groups
Minimum of 3 participants, maximum of 15 participants.
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- Half day
The duration depends on the number of activities you choose to include in your visit. Each activity takes approximately 30 minutes and they ask for teachers to allow for 30 minutes at the start and end of the session for introduction, evaluation forms, and closing. Upon receiving your email to book the lab, one of the STEM Lab leads will be in touch to create and tailor the day to your specifics needs and the demographic of the group.
- Cost
- Free
- Location
-
Offsite
- Milton Keynes
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Learning what the engineering workplace is like
- Develop engineering employability skills
- Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
- Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
Frameworks
Essential skills
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
-
Planning - Setting goals and designing routes to achieve them
-
Creativity - Using imagination and generating new ideas
-
Leadership - Supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal
-
Listening - Receiving, retaining and processing information
-
Problem solving - Finding solutions to challenges
-
Speaking - Transmitting information or ideas
-
Adapting - Overcoming challenges and setbacks to achieve goals
-
Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal


