Welcome to our STEM Outreach project for schools.
For a number of years, Westfield has been running very popular STEM outreach sessions to promote the excitement of further study in science and engineering for girls and to highlight the opportunities for successful careers in STEM. We are delighted that we now have sponsorship from the Reece Foundation for this outreach work and we are in the process of expanding our project so that it reaches more pupils and schools.
A new element of our STEM project is the provision of outreach activity packs for schools and this part of our website provides resources for teachers and pupils to accompany these packs. We offer two different packs, one based around Engineering and one around Forensic Science. The packs are aimed at pupils in years 4, 5 and 6.
Each pack provides detailed lessons plans, powerpoints and physical resources which will allow teachers to deliver an exciting STEM based activity to pupils in the comfort of their own classrooms. The contents of the two packs have been specially designed to promote problem solving, scientific enquiry using the scientific method and to encourage active participation of pupils through practical work.
If you are a teacher who is interesting in joining our outreach project and receiving one/both of our outreach packs to deliver in your school please email mbrannigan@westfield.newcastle.sch.uk to register.
If you would like further information about the packs, you can also click on the 'STEM Outreach Project - Teacher page' link in the menu on the left hand side of this page.
We look forward to welcoming you to the project!
Maths Masterclass with AMCS
Overview
This is the first in new a series of masterclasses aimed at students in years 10 and 11 who are aiming for a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE and who are likely to study Maths at A-Level. It is also intended to support students who are studying additional qualifications such as the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Maths.
The aim of each session is to look at an area of maths that is as important at both GCSE and A-Level, at a level of depth and challenge that may not always be reached in school maths lessons. Students will benefit from the opportunity to discuss mathematical ideas with students from other shcools who are working at a similar level. They will also be strongly encouraged to begin using dynamic graphical technology to help with their understanding of the subject.
In this first session the focus will be on polynomials. We will discuss why polynomials are so important in maths, what is and what isn't a polynomial, see various ways of representing them and move into tackling some challenging problems in which polynomials are involved.
Aims
Get a deeper understanding of the importance of polynomials in maths.
Work alongside students from other schools who are working at a similar level.
Experience some of the benefits of using graphical and other technology to enhance your understanding of maths.
Tackle challenging mathematical problems.
Who will benefit from attending?
Students in years 10 and 11 who are aiming for a grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Maths, especially if they are studying (or hope to study) additional qualifications such as the Level 2 Certificate of Further Maths.
Materials and Equipment
Students should bring their own pens, pencils, rulers and paper.
Other Information
Please note that this event is taking place on a Saturday and students are not expected to be accompanied by their teachers. As such, we will require parental consent forms to be completed, which will record emergency contact details and medical information for each student.
Teachers should make one application on behalf of their shcool, stating how many students will be attending. They will then be sent a link to a separate consent form which they should forward directly to parents/carers for completion.
On the application for teachers (linked to from this page) please enter your own contact details in the first section. For the "emergency contact details" please enter the details of a member of staff from your school (possibly yourself) who we can contact on the day of the in the unlikely event that there is an emergency and we are unable to get in touch with a student's parents.
Eligibility
This event is open to all students in years 10 and 11, although it is strongly targeted at those who are expected to achieve a grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Maths. Applications are welcome from both state and private sector schools, although priority will be given to students from state sector schools.
To book your place please email fswift@westfield.newcastle.sch.uk
