By Dr Tansell (Head of Computer Science)

Last Thursday (25th June) saw a group of Year 10 and Lower Sixth Form students visit FESTO UK & Ireland in Northampton for an engaging hands-on STEM experience. 

Throughout the day, students took part in a range of interactive workshops led by FESTO's STEM Ambassadors, gaining first-hand insight into the exciting world of automation and engineering. One of the highlights was the opportunity to build and test pneumatic circuits from engineering circuit diagrams, challenging students to apply their problem-solving skills and think like real engineers. Working collaboratively, they assembled components, followed technical schematics and saw how compressed air can be used to power automated systems. 

The practical activities gave students a real sense of what is possible within modern engineering and manufacturing, while also helping them develop valuable skills in teamwork, logical thinking and troubleshooting. Students were highly engaged throughout the visit and embraced the challenge of turning theoretical designs into working systems. 

We are very grateful to the team at FESTO UK & Ireland for their warm welcome and for providing such an inspiring and informative experience. The visit offered an excellent opportunity for students to explore future STEM career pathways and see engineering concepts brought to life.