Engineering at last gets a foot in the primary school door
21 May 2019
A decade and a half long mission to introduce engineering to primary school classrooms has come to fruition with the launch of two scientific institutions aimed at young people.
The Institution of Primary Engineers and its counterpart aimed at older students, the Institution of Secondary Engineers, were launched this week at the House of Lords.
The two bodies will seek to overturn the way STEM skills are taught and to encourage more recruitment to counter the engineering sector skills gap.
Driving force behind the creation of the bodies, Dr Susan Scurlock, commented: “The primary school children of today will, within the next quarter of a century, be the original thinkers, problem solvers, and collaborators that change the world. The Institutions of Primary and Secondary Engineers will empower children to navigate a pathway to work while identifying, building and supporting engineers in the making.
The primary school children of today will, within the next quarter of a century, be the original thinkers, problem solvers, and collaborators that change the world
Dr Susan Scurlock, creator of The Institutions of Primary and Secondary Engineers
“This is the beginning of a cycle that will embed fundamental skills in children from a very young age providing them with the foundation for their and our future.”
Support for the institutions has come from the chief executive of Energy & Skills, Nick Ellins, who said his organisation will help build connections between schools and employers to foster interest and learning.
He said: “Helping school children at an early age to build that passion for helping others through engineering excellence is a core part of our Energy & Utilities skills strategy, and we are committed to helping the Institution of Primary Engineers and Institution of Secondary Engineers.”
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Photo: A recent schools initiative headed by Sheffield AMRC
