Four ESS Pupils Secure WEIR-WISE Engineering Placements For Girls

December 10 2024

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Edinburgh Steiner pupils secure four of the three hundred placements on the Young WEIR-WISE engineering programme for girls.

While many Class 12 pupils are in the midst of sending off University applications, the Careers Department is also busy working much further down the school, collaborating with the Class Teacher to give pupils in the Lower School a head start on this important journey.

Congratulations to Class 8 pupils Evie, Maeve, Naomi, and Kayla (above), who have been successful in gaining places on the Weir-Wyse Programme, run by the University of Strathclyde, in early 2025. This competitive programme offers participants a two-day engagement with the university, where they will hear from staff at the University and colleagues from the Weir Group who will provide insight into studying and working in the field of engineering. They will also take part in practical activities run by University of Strathclyde staff and engineers.

Applications for this are competitive and the feedback the School had is that this year’s cohort of applicants was of an especially high standard. With a limited number of places for the whole of Scotland, we’re thrilled that four of ours are going to be there. Kirsty MacDonald-Russell, who leads the school’s Careers provision, said:

Kirsty Macdonald-Russell, Careers Departement

These pupils have worked incredibly hard to be selected for the programme, so I’m thrilled to see these efforts bearing fruit. This sort of external work is part of a range of approaches the Careers Department takes to check that before pupils come close to selecting their onward journeys, they’ve had plenty of opportunities to examine lots of different possibilities.”

Class Teacher, Karen Ford, was able to link this external opportunity to the School’s Waldorf curriculum:

Karen Ford, Class 8 Teacher

This opportunity arose just as we were starting a Main Lesson block all about pressure. This starts off slowly with getting the Class to understand that pressure is all around us and it’s different from force. This seems very simple but trying to grasp this abstract concept took some time and a few lovely experiments, including cutting a large block of ice in half with a wire attached to weights and watching it refreeze again.

We were able to get some wonder and interest around the subject quite easily with the culmination being the science behind a 4-stroke engine. When the girls in the class were presented with the application, their minds were already intrigued by physics and it was accessible to them rather than an alien concept, so there was no hesitation in scribbling down the details to discuss at home.”

Mike Hooper, Exam Physics & Biology Teacher, is really happy to hear this news:

Mike Hooper, Exam Physics & Biology Teacher

Engineering is a very popular career choice for ESS pupils and every year some of our pupils go on to study engineering at university. Experience in the field can inspire and motivate pupils and also help them to stand out from the crowd in competition for places. I am thrilled that some of our Class 8 pupils have been accepted on the Weir-Wyse engineering programme.”

Read the full weekly ezine here: Tuesday Notice

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Four ESS Pupils Secure Engineering Placements

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