On Tuesday 31st January 2023 Thornton College hosted its annual STEM event. Over 300 students attended from eight different schools across MK and Bucks.
The event showcased the fantastic STEM career opportunities available with 24 companies including Aston Martin F1, ABB Robotics, AECOM, FCDO, MK:U, Nifty Lift, Volkswagen and Santander discussing with students their industries and varied employment and apprenticeship options.
Thornton works closely with many leading companies who support the school in the delivery of careers. Without these wonderful companies, students would not have the opportunity to be inspired by job sectors they have not previously considered or heard about. At the Thornton annual STEM event, 24 companies hosted stands, spanning sectors including Civil Engineering, Design, Pharmaceuticals, Business, Finance, Health, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Data Information … the list is endless. The key attribute that links all these wonderful STEM careers is the need to be creative thinkers. Tutti Toot Trumpet for example, is a fantastic medical technology company that has prototyped a musical airway clearance device for people with chronic respiratory diseases. This is being trialled by Imperial College London, supported by the NHS and a perfect example of how creativity, science and business can come together to produce exciting innovation.
All senior students from Thornton College attended the event and had undertaken research and preparation relating to the companies in advance. Thornton students were delighted to be joined by pupils from eight local state schools, enabling as many as possible to benefit from the expertise and advise of the delegates. Whether it was finding out about the role of an Aerodynamicist in F1 from Aston Martin, learning about spatial design from Architect Michela Falcone, talking to Network Rail Apprentices, understanding how a construction site functions with Morgan Sindall and Jackson, asking questions about different pathways in the Army, quizzing clinicians from MK Hospital or interacting with Robots with ABB Robotics, everyone had an amazing afternoon!
Thornton would like to publicly thank all the amazing delegates who attended.
MK is the fastest growing start up economy in the UK and Thornton is the only girls’ independent school in Milton Keynes – less than 23% of women enter STEM careers worldwide and yet at Thornton STEM subjects are the most popular in Sixth Form!
Louise Shaw, Head Teacher at Thornton College said “Thornton is delighted to be hosting another STEM event for our students and for local schools. We cannot emphasise enough how important it is for young people today to be forward thinking and to make the all-important links with industry, which lead to a professional career in which they will thrive”.
Jo Scott, Enterprise and Careers Leader at Thornton College said “Our aim is to provide a platform for employers, young people and educational providers to develop invaluable partnerships. We are thrilled that students from eight local schools joined us at this year’s event and we are proud to be a STEM School and the Independent School of Year (2021) for our Careers programme”.
Categories: School News Thornton College
