SPACE STUDIO IN SCIENCE MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP

Students at Space Studio West London are big fans of the Science Museum having forged close links over the past few years.

A connection made by Steph Lee, Enhanced Careers Lead for Aspirations Academies Trust of which SSWL is part, has resulted in a flourishing relationship between the museum and the Feltham school which provides education for 14 – 19 year olds.

“We are regular visitors to the Science Museum,” explains Steph, “partly because the school is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) specialist school. In the last few years we’ve been able to help the museum with the staging and marketing of their exhibitions. Our students preview the displays and test the interactive elements; they’re the guinea pigs! We probably visit about once a month.”

Space student, Emma, enjoys the visits: “It is really exciting to be invited to view the new exhibitions before they are opened to the public! I especially enjoyed the Power Up exhibition, playing different games that I knew and from before I was born.”

As well as assessing activities, the Space Studio pupils participate in the museum’s photoshoots. Year 11 student Rayaan took part in one recently and was excited to bump into a giant image of herself when she returned to visit the Engineers Gallery:

“I was surprised to see myself on the Engineering poster. At first, I felt happy that I’d been picked as the face of the exhibition. And then I felt proud to represent females in STEM and hopefully play a part in changing the misconception that STEM is a male orientated career route”.

The Science Museum offers an educational programme which includes a careers gallery where young people are invited to learn about the world of STEM careers through interactive exhibits developed in collaboration with Marvel Studios, the NHS, National Grid and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

“Careers is a really important area of education at SSWL,” adds Steph. “ At SSWL we put employability at the heart of everything we do. We want our students to understand that the learning they do with us, our emphasis on work experience and developing the ‘power skills’ of communication, collaboration and creativity, will help them achieve their future goals. ”

Principal of Space Studio, Andy Morgan, agrees:
“Space Studio combines high quality scientific education with industry-related activity. We offer applied, project based learning and we’re keen to develop students’ cultural opportunities too. We are very appreciative of the relationship with the Science Museum which has facilitated so many great experiences for our students.”