45 Year 10 students from King’s Oak Academy had the unique opportunity to visit the world-renowned Airbus site in Filton for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event during National Apprenticeship Week.
The Bristol students started the day with a site tour of the landing gear test facility and the fuel testing facility, witnessing many scientists at work and the immensely sophisticated computer systems that control the testing processes.
In a dynamic exercise, students engaged in a cabin design task where they had to work in small groups to design the inside of an Airbus cabin, thinking about maximising profit for the airline. Students had different roles within the team and really had to work together to be successful, emphasising the importance of teamwork in achieving success.
They also took part in a series of gliding activities, which included hands-on experiences in gliding simulators, mastering how to complete many different manoeuvres – including loop-the-loops – under the guidance of expert instructors.
The final task was an interactive session where students got to question different employees of both Airbus and the Gliding Association about their career pathways, gaining valuable insights into the diverse opportunities within the aerospace and aviation industries.
Laura Phillips, Associate Assistant Principal for STEM at King’s Oak, said, “The students had a really informative visit and were a real credit to the academy. Well done Year 10.”