Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form put on an outstanding event to celebrate its recent STEM Assured® status from the New Engineering Foundation (NEF).
Sadly, due to adverse weather conditions which meant that his helicopter could not take off, HRH the Duke of York was unable to attend Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form as planned today, but the College still managed to put on an outstanding event to celebrate its recent STEM Assured® status from the New Engineering Foundation (NEF).
The standard recognises excellence in Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths and to mark the occasion, the College held a STEM themed exhibition in the Sports Hall, where College students and local school pupils from Pendle and Burnley demonstrated their excellent knowledge in areas including Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Engineering. Work stations included work on obtaining DNA from a crime scene, working out projections using Maths and Physics, exploring the wonders of Chemistry, using natural resources such as wind and water to create power and designing and building a hovercraft!
In addition to the STEM Exhibition and Celebration, students from the College’s Business, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy and Catering departments were invited to create stands to showcase their entrepreneurial projects, including the work they have completed as part of Nelson’s Portas Pilot Project. Both the STEM and enterprise events were attended by local dignitaries the Deputy Mayor and Councillor Smith Benson, Chief Executive of Pendle Council, Stephen Barnes, Councillor Joe Cooney, Councillor Paul White, Chairman to the Board of Corporation at the College, John David and MP Andrew Stephenson, in addition Chief Executive at the New Engineering Foundation, Professor Sa’ad Medhat and Director of Operations and Strategic Development Michelle Medhat
After touring the STEM Exhibition, Professor Sa’ad Medhat unveiled the plaque, with a special ‘STEM’ flourish – lifting plaque from a vat of liquid nitrogen! He went on to congratulate the College on its outstanding achievements and thanked the staff and students for illustrating their dedication to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths at the exhibition.
College Principal Amanda Melton said, “Although we were disappointed not to be welcoming HRH the Duke of York today, I am continually impressed dedication and tenacity displayed by my staff, who pulled together to put on a fantastic show for our visitors. Feedback from the children visiting from out local high school was fabulous and I am proud of the outstanding teaching which was apparent throughout the event. Pennine Lancashire has a proud history of industrial innovation and enterprise and we are committed to making sure that the young people who study at our College will leave us to make a positive contribution to the economic growth of the region.”
