THE first Briton in space gave high school pupils a stellar insight into the value of science and technology education.
Helen Sharman, who spent eight days on the Mir space station in 1991, talked to Year 12 physics students from Kingsbury Green Academy as part of a careers programme designed to encourage them to aim high.
The pupils teamed up with counterparts from fellow Ascend Learning Trust school, The Wellington Academy in Tidworth, to hear first-hand about the variety of different opportunities that science, technology, engineering and maths qualifications have offered her.
Even before she rocketed into space the scientist enjoyed an interesting early career thanks to her qualifications in chemistry, she worked for Mars on chocolate and ice cream development.
Jason Tudor, Principal said: “These talks are designed to inspire our young people to pursue opportunities that they may have thought out of their reach or to consider new and varied paths open to them.
“By teaming up with our fellow Ascend academy, The Wellington Academy, we have been able to give our pupils such an incredible insight into the highest heights of career achievement. Helen’s talk helped them see different avenues and to be able to pinpoint what they need to do in order to achieve their goals.”
The Careers Insight programme at Kingsbury Green has a regular schedule of inspirational talks designed to introduce pupils to career paths that they may not have considered or thought may be out of their reach. Previous talks include renowned geneticist Dr Laurence Hurst and the next talk will be by a former professional footballer.
Physics student Joe was at the latest lecture as well as Dr Hurst's. He said: “They gave me an insight into career options. I also have a much better idea about how to apply to university and what I could do. I’m also doing A Levels in biology and maths and so I’d like to go to university and study zoology.”
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