Bringing Space Science Down to Earth

Inspiring young minds about future possibilities is a central part of our approach to education. As part of our wider World Space Week activities, we recently welcomed Lea from Spacetime Education to lead a series of space-themed assemblies for students in Years 7 to 11. These interactive talks introduced our pupils to real-world STEM careers, demonstrating how classroom learning in science, maths and technology connects directly to real-world opportunities.

Exploring Unexpected Paths into Aerospace Careers

During the assemblies, Lea explained the wide range of roles that keep space exploration moving forward. While many people picture astronauts or engineers, it takes over 300 different job roles to support a single moon mission. Aside from scientists, the aerospace industry relies on meteorologists, graphic designers, lawyers, event planners and even plumbers to maintain life-support systems on board.

The presentation highlighted how different skills fit into the space sector. Students learnt about career stepping stones, including how joining the RAF can lead directly into aerospace and engineering roles. To bring the science to life, students and staff had the chance to try on a genuine spacesuit. A memorable moment for Year 7 was watching Mrs Nath walk across the stage fully suited as if stepping onto the lunar surface.

Sparking Curiosity

The hands-on demonstration made a lasting impression on students across all year groups, helping complex scientific concepts feel accessible to everyone. The enthusiasm across campus was clear, with students sharing how much they enjoyed the session:

"The Spacetime Education session was fun, exciting, interactive and informative. It sparked our curiosity, inspired our imagination and made us want to learn even more. One of our favourite moments was seeing our form tutor put on the astronaut spacesuit!"

This enthusiasm feeds directly into our academic outcomes. Following our summer results, our Science and Technology departments placed within the top 10% of schools nationally for student progress. Every year, a large number of our Sixth Form students choose STEM subjects at A-Level before moving on to competitive university courses and prestigious degree apprenticeships.

Hands-On STEM Learning

Connecting classroom topics with practical experiences is a key part of the Bulmershe way. Through regular extra-curricular opportunities, visits and competitions, we encourage our students to think creatively and build confidence in technical subjects.

Looking ahead, Spacetime Education will return in July 2027 to run a series of Space Elevator workshops for Year 7. Working in teams, pupils will use K'NEX to solve structural engineering problems, learning about forces, tension and stability through practical trial and error. While exposing them to careers in engineering these workshops will also help new Year 7 pupils settle into secondary school life, encouraging them to collaborate with classmates and discover new personal interests.

We would like to extend a thank you to Lea from Spacetime Education for giving up her time to speak with our students and share her expertise. We also thank our Careers Team for organising the event, and our staff members who participated on stage.