In a remarkable display of educational innovation, Ardingly College and Ifield Community College, have once again come together to develop a groundbreaking STEM project. Renowned for their previous collaboration in designing, building, and racing a solar car across Australia—a remarkable achievement that established Ardingly College as the sole European school to accomplish such a feat—this partnership reaffirms its commitment to advancing STEM education by today’s launch of a new STEM bus.
The double-decker bus has been custom-designed by teams of students at Ardingly and Ifield to serve as a mobile science classroom, complete with solar panels on the roof to provide all the power for the exciting experiments and other educational activities, which will compliment and enhance the Key Stage 2 syllabus by providing a mobile laboratory.
The driving force behind this ambitious project was Dr. Andrew Spiers, who was awarded an MBE in 2018 for his contributions to education. With the generous sponsorship from the Rae family and their company GEW (EC) Ltd, Dr. Spiers’ vision has now materialised into the STEM Bus, a mobile hub for scientific exploration and learning.
The Ardingly Ifield solar car team, of students from both Colleges, played a pivotal role in shaping the STEM Bus. Their expertise in design and development has culminated in this cutting-edge educational resource, which promises to inspire students and ignite their passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The STEM Bus has several key objectives that hold the promise of revolutionising the way students engage with STEM subjects. It will tour primary schools, accompanied by sixth-form students from Ardingly College as part of their enrichment program. These enthusiastic young mentors will conduct engaging science workshops, fostering a hands-on learning experience for younger pupils.
The bus will serve as an extended educational space for students at Ifield College. After the classroom doors close at 3.30 PM, it will continue to be a hub of learning, offering a unique opportunity for students to explore STEM topics in a dynamic and interactive environment.
Finally, the STEM Bus aims to support “School Refusers”, these are students who have faced challenges returning to school after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing an exciting and inspiring learning environment, it seeks to rekindle their interest and motivation to return to school.
The possibilities presented by the STEM Bus are endless. As it embarks on its journey to promote STEM education at both Colleges and beyond, we eagerly anticipate the positive impact it will have on students’ lives and the wider community.
