Clean sweep at the ERA Foundation annual awards dinner for Secondary Teaching Prize

This June, Inspiration Trust is celebrating two STEM teachers who have been commended for their teaching and fantastic work in supporting opportunities for young people to get into engineering and STEM industries. 

Anthony Vaughan-Evans, Director of STEM from East Point Academy, won The David Clark Prize for outstanding teaching in the field of engineering for Secondary Schools, recognised for his commitment and passion for his work and raising the profile of engineering to students and the local community. The included prize also means that East Point Academy is set to receive £12,000 for more exciting STEM projects and support of the curriculum in the coming years. 

Anthony said: 

“I am committed to delivering an excellent and exciting STEM agenda to the young people of Lowestoft and Waveney and importantly not just for the pupils at East Point Academy. The wealth of opportunities within the local area (often referred to as the energy coast) and the huge potential of our young people will provide the ideal opportunity to make the young people and its enterprise partners the regional pioneers in STEM education and provide the area with skilled young people equipped for the workplace. 

 

By engaging external support from a number of sources we have managed to create STEM experiences for young people that are stimulating, enlightening and contextual. The possibilities are endless with the future bringing a ‘Centre of Excellence for STEM’ to the Lowestoft and Waveney area.” 

The prize money will have an enormous positive impact on increasing the STEM opportunities for young people at East Point Academy and in the local area across many schools and developing a Centre of Excellence for STEM. 

East Point Academy is excited to expand the “STEM in Action” model to incorporate more schools and engage more external support. This model is built on partnerships with local companies and working with STEM ambassadors to bring “real-life” curriculum topics into the classroom. The key to motivation and broadening pupils’ horizons is visiting the industrial setting, which can immeasurably change young people’s perspectives on their potential career paths. With this funding, the costs of transport, which has been a major obstacle in the past, can be addressed, enabling more pupils to visit locations further afield in this remote and rural setting. The school can also develop more inter-school STEM events and competitions. 

East Point Academy would like to develop a project to engage parents and highlight STEM opportunities, focusing on female role models, presentation skills, and communication skills. Funding will enable the provision of refreshments and activities for these events. 

Finally, the school would like to provide training and resources for other STEM teachers in the area to enable greater uptake of these local STEM opportunities in the energy sector and the many different STEM activities available. This work involves encouraging and supporting teachers in areas needing more experience, confidence, and connections. The prize money can be used to develop tailored resources to be delivered at training sessions and to create a local STEM opportunity directory. 

Lucy Austin, Principal at East Point Academy said: 

“We are extremely proud of Anthony, as our Director of STEM he does a huge amount of work with our students and the community to raise the profile of engineering.  

 

Lowestoft, home to East Point Academy, has a growing engineering industry for which our students are the future employees. It's fantastic that Anthony's important work in this field is being recognised by such a prestigious award." 

Kate Finlay, Head of Design and Technology at Hethersett Academy and Subject Specialist for Inspiration Trust was also recognised by The David Clark Prize and received the “Highly Commended” award for her work encouraging participation in Design and Technology and promoting careers in STEM industries. 

Kate said: 

“Since being in post at Hethersett Academy, I have grown the department from 15 pupils in a year taking D&T GCSE to now over 100+. The team has grown from 3 members of staff to 12. The department has evolved to encompass a heavy reliance on new technological and commercial practices. 

It is incredibly important that pupils receive experiences that will align with their next steps. I have ensured that pupils use industry CAD programmes and industry standard machinery and equipment. We organise visits to local post-16 workplaces so that our pupils can see their next steps in the sector. I deeply value the engagement with industries.  It is important that pupils have experiences with the social aspects of talking to employers and learn about changes in industry.   

I deeply value the engagement with industries. It is important that pupils have experiences with the social aspects of talking to employers and learn about changes in industry.  It is my ambition for pupils no matter what their start points, that they can access a future in engineering and know how to find out more about it. 

I am also a Subject Specialist for the Inspiration Trust; I support primary and secondary school D&T departments.  As well as working with heads of department and teachers across the trust, I am also currently working on a futures programme to enhance the sectors experience our pupils gain throughout their time in a trust school.  Embedding the notion of pupils having many careers but only one future.” 

Jane Diver, Principal at Hethersett Academy said: 

“Kate Finlay has transformed the technology department at Hethersett Academy beyond all recognition. Kate has worked tirelessly to design a curriculum that has enabled all children to engage in a curriculum that is innovative, creative and inspiring with an abundance of opportunities for all to follow their passions.  

 

For this all, the Hethersett Academy community are very grateful - thank you Kate for all you do to transform the lives of the children of Hethersett!”