More schools encouraged to join STEM programme

More than 160 students applied to be on the STEM On Track programme

More schools in Jersey are being encouraged to sign up for a project that helps students learn more about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Hautlieu School runs the island's STEM On Track programme, which teaches young people how to design, build and race their own go-karts.

They also learned how to market and pitch ideas about their designs to improve their confidence and communication skills as well, project leaders said, adding they would like more schools to join the programme.

Head of Physics at Hautlieu Carl Bowen-Price said he was working with Skills Jersey to see how this could be rolled out to other schools.

Carl Bowen-Price helped bring STEM On Track to Jersey

He said students "will share their ideas and gain confidence beyond school and take that into the workplace".

Mr Bowen-Price added: "Other schools should just take a chance and come and see us because we've seen how much of a difference this makes to our students."

The winning group of students will take their go-kart to the UK to race it with other schools and learn from the Alpine FI Team.

Julia, 16, stood up and pitched to her team that she should be their design leader and they voted her into the role.

She said: "It's been very nerve-wracking but very exciting... managing many elements of a project sounds really fun."

"I myself find it very daunting but I do think it's very important definitely for the future, definitely for presentations and for future jobs."

The STEM On Track was due to run through the next school year and could see the students work with PwC staff – which sponsors the programme - on how they can market their project to the wider community, project leaders said.