Engineering Education Grant Scheme awards grant to Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility to support GCSE education across Gloucestershire

The Gloucestershire Energy From Waste Facility received a £12,850 grant from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to develop GCSE Curriculum Education Plans for the benefit of students in and around Gloucestershire. The Engineering Education Grant Scheme (EEGS) provides support for UK-based educational projects that increase engineering knowledge in young people. 

The award has funded the development of GCSE curriculum-linked day sessions for Physics, Chemistry and Design & Technology. These free sessions are available to all Key Stage 4 students in Gloucestershire and aim to illustrate, in a very real and practical way, topics and technologies students learn about in school.  Each subject day session focuses on key content from the relevant GCSE curriculum specifications, and teaching is delivered through a lesson, a facility tour and a group activity. All sessions have been developed by a qualified teacher working in conjunction with our Partnership Secondary Schools – Barnwood Park and Severn Vale.   

The Facility has a fully equipped visitor centre which provides a venue for schools, colleges, community and other interest groups to meet and learn about sustainable waste management and resource use, with access to a working facility. Students are able to tour the facility and see first hand the level and depth of engineering at work, treating residual waste (that is waste that isn’t easily recycled) to produce power in the form of electricity, as well as the potential for the provision of heat to the local community. The GCSE Curriculum Education Plans form part of the Facility’s overall education programme for schools, colleges and universities in the county. 

The Engineering Education Grant Scheme, which is run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, aims to engage young people aged 5-19 in learning about engineering and to develop the professional skills of those involved in supporting Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning and careers awareness.  

Stacey Wright, General Manager, Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility commented: “This award really kick starts our education programme here at the Facility. It’s really important that the students of Gloucestershire get to see our working facility and understand the engineering that goes on inside, and how we treat waste from their houses. We are looking forward to welcoming students to the site.” 

Sarah Stanton, Project Lead, said: “We are delighted to have received the EEGS grant which has enabled us to develop lessons and activities aimed at bringing aspects of the current GCSE curriculum to life for students. Having the opportunity to visit the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste facility will not only help secure students’ understanding of technologies and processes taught in class but also stir and inspire thinking about their own careers and aspirations.” 

Dr Colin Brown, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The GCSE Curriculum Education Plans are a fantastic example of the kind of projects the EEGS scheme aims to promote. The UK is facing a critical engineering skills shortage and showing young people how creative and exciting engineering can be, is a key way of inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.” 

David Lakin, Head of Education at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, said: “In order to tackle the engineering skills gap we need more graduates and apprentices to enter the profession, and this can only happen if more school-age children – girls as well as boys – are attracted to, and choose to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. The IET and IMechE are investing considerable resource in EEGS to support vital projects like the GCSE Curriculum Education Plans, which highlight the exciting, creative and rewarding world of engineering careers to young people.” 

There are two levels of funding available in the EEGS. Awards of up to £5000 are available for standard applications to the fund, and up-to-four awards of £15,000 are available each year.