Network Rail STEM Lab
Interact with Network Rail employees and engage in a range of STEM-related activities linked to the rail industry.
The Neon quality mark shows this activity has been reviewed and meets Neon's quality standards.
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.
'My Skills My Life' quiz - Young girls travel through this virtual quiz which matches their personality to STEM Related Careers
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
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- Design and technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- Curriculum links
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- Design and technology
- Computing
- Physics: Electricity and electromagnetism
- Biology: Material cycles and energy
- Physics: Energy
- Engineering
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Electricity
- Computing science
- Sciences - Planet earth: Energy sources and sustainability
- Sciences - Planet earth
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Design thinking and engineering
- Physics: Electricity
- Physics: Energy transfer
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Technology & design - Design
- Technology & design - Communication: Use of ICT tools (including 3D modelling)
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Using electricity
- Technology & design - Control: Incorporate control systems in products
- Sciences - Earth and universe: The environment and human influences
- Sciences - Forces and energy
- Technology & design - Control
- Technology & design - Manufacturing
- Group size
- Small groups, Whole class, Whole year group
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
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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
Gatsby benchmarks
The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:
- 2 - Learning from career and labour market information
- 3 - Addressing the needs of each pupil
- 4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers
- 5 - Encounters with employers and employees
- 6 - Experiences of workplaces
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:
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