Hundreds of pupils from across Pendle came to Nelson & Colne College (NCC) for a day of discovery, exploring what a future in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) could look like for them.
Pupils from Marsden Heights, Fisher More, West Craven, Pendle Vale and Colne Park High School spent the day using professional lab equipment, solving engineering challenges and taking on creative design projects across the STEAM disciplines.
From A Levels and T Levels to vocational qualifications and apprenticeships, the day gave pupils a glimpse of the many pathways available right on their doorstep. For many, it was their first time visiting a further education college.
Pupils also had the chance to meet the professionals already working in the fields they had been exploring. What does a career in aerospace actually look like? How does someone end up designing security systems or working in advanced manufacturing? Employers including PBC Engineers, BAE Systems and Airbus were there to answer exactly those questions.
Delivered in partnership with Pendle Borough Council, the festival forms part of NCC’s ongoing commitment to connecting young people across the borough with local opportunities.
NCC has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted for 20 consecutive years and is ranked number one nationally for A Level and vocational progress. Former student Sai Chinmayee Naresh Kumaar exemplifies this commitment, arriving passionate about science and leaving with a place to study Medicine at the University of Cambridge.
For Kirsten Graham, Head of Division for Science at NCC, stories like Sai Chinmayee’s show exactly what the college is working towards:
“Our aim is simple. We want every young person in Pendle to see that a future in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths is within reach. When students step into our labs, speak to our tutors and meet employers, they begin to picture themselves in those roles. That moment is powerful.”
Think a future in science, technology, engineering, arts or maths could be for you? Find out what is possible at https://www.nelson.ac.uk
