Anthony Vaughan-Evans, a Maths teacher and Director of STEM at East Point Academy, is committed to delivering an excellent and exciting STEM agenda to the young people of Lowestoft and Waveney, two of England's most deprived areas. Anthony's commitment to engaging external support ensures that young people are given stimulating, enlightening, and contextual STEM experiences. He has only just begun creating a "Centre of Excellence for STEM" in the area and firmly believes there is potential to lead STEM education in Suffolk and further afield.
As a STEM teacher coordinator for the Royal Academy of Engineering, Anthony has established a network of over 40 high and primary school teachers in Norfolk and Suffolk, offering support, resources, and consultation to other schools so they can adopt this STEM engagement. He has also developed a STEM model called "STEM inAction," which involves working with STEM ambassadors to bring real-life curriculum topics into the classroom. This model has successfully engaged students and provided them with hands-on learning experiences.
"We are extremely proud of Anthony, as our Director of STEM he does a huge amount of work with our students and the community to raise the profile of engineering," said Lucy Austin, principal of East Point Academy. "Lowestoft, home to East Point Academy, has a growing engineering industry for which our students are the future employees. It's fantastic that Anthony's important work in this field is being recognised by such a prestigious award."
East Point Academy explained that the prize money will have an enormous positive impact on increasing the STEM opportunities for young people in the local area across many schools and developing a Centre of Excellence for STEM.
The school is excited to expand the "STEM in Action" model to incorporate more schools and engage more external support. This model is built on partnerships with local companies and working with STEM ambassadors to bring "real-life" curriculum topics into the classroom. The key to motivation and broadening pupils' horizons is visiting the industrial setting, which can immeasurably change young people's perspectives on their potential career paths. With this funding, the costs of transport, which has been a major obstacle in the past, can be addressed, enabling more pupils to visit locations further afield in this remote and rural setting. The school can also develop more interschool STEM events and competitions.
These projects can be significant in disadvantaged areas where STEM career opportunities are sometimes not noticed by young people and parents. With this in mind, alongside the great opportunities for STEM-related careers in the energy sector locally, East PointAcademy would like to develop a project to engage parents and highlight STEM opportunities, focusing on female role models, presentation skills, and communication skills. Funding will enable the provision of refreshments and activities for these events.
Finally, the school would like to provide training and resources for other STEM teachers in the area to enable greater uptake of these local STEM opportunities in the energy sector and the many different STEM activities available. This work involves encouraging and supporting teachers in areas needing more experience, confidence, and connections. The prize money can be used to develop tailored resources to be delivered at training sessions and to create a local STEM opportunity directory.
