STEM at EMCAT

What is STEM?

STEM is an acronym and stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The STEM areas in some way relate to almost every aspect of life. The fact that when you turn the tap on you have fresh clean water and when you flick the light switch the light turns on. Even the materials your clothes are made from and the taste of the food you eat is affected by one of the STEM areas. Scientists, Engineers and Mathematicians are all around us and impact on the way we live and the Technology that is available to us. So regardless of what your career aspirations STEM is appropriate for you.

Fancy learning more about the STEM principals? Then why not join our STEM programme. To participate in the programme you must be year 9 or above and your school must grant you permission to attend and you must meet the minimum entry requirements.

This is a unique and inovative vocational course (level 1) delivered on day release or by block attendance. The programme consists of a number of mandatory and optional QCF units each ranging from 20 to 40 GLH. The minimum attendance for the programme is 70 hours. Courses commence at intervals throughout the year subject to sufficient participation.

The exciting STEM syllabus centred around our full size road legal "Missile Electric Vehicle" plus other emerging "Low Carbon Technologies and Alternative Fuels" including Wind and Solar Power and Hybrid and Fuel Cell development.

The course also includes Personal and Social Development (PSD) units on Environmental Awareness and Preperation for Work.

The programme is very much practical based and includes theoretical knowledge to support all practical activity.

Here are some of the things you will learn on the course:

• Safe Working and Health and Safety
• The main principals and laws relating to electricity
• How to read diagrams and build basic electrical circuits
• How electric and Hybrid vehicles function
• How solar energy can be harnessed to generate electricity and hot water
• How wind and water power can be harnessed to generate electricity
• The basic principals of fuel cell operation
• How human behaviour affects the environment

All participants are automatically enrolled as "Young Engineers" and are registered with the awarding body (IMIAL) and each QCF unit achieved is certificated at the end of the course.

The programme provides opportunities for progression to complete the full Level 1 qualification plus many other STEM related courses including Young Apprenticeship and Apprenticeships (post 16 years).

Delivery of the course takes place at SNC's EMCAT specialist training centre which is located in Ruddington Fields Business Park.

Download a STEM leaflet here

Pupils at the Magnus Church of England School are the first in Newark to have completed a project that demonstrates the role science and engineering can play in changing the way people live. Read more here!