By Mrs Redfern (Head of Design Technology)

Last weekend, 36 students from Years 9 to Year 11 set off on an exciting trip to Paris to attend STEM Live! conferences, held at the iconic Disneyland Paris.

Alongside the conference, we had the opportunity to explore the city, taking in its stunning architecture and enjoying a scenic river cruise along the Seine. A highlight of our sightseeing was the breathtaking panoramic view of Paris from the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower.

At Computing Live! we were inspired by talks from leading industry figures, including Catherine Achieng, a passionate UX designer with a strong drive for creativity and innovation and Ben Byford, a renowned Games designer, AI ethics consultant, teacher, and AI podcaster.

Over at Design Technology Live! Students had engaging talks from Jude Pullen, a technologist and physical prototyping expert who has worked at Dyson, Sugru and LEGO, among others. He is passionate about inclusive design, and assisting businesses to shape their futures through design thinking and novel use of technologies.

Jude provided students with invaluable real-world design insights, demonstrating that even the most intricate creations can be crafted from something as simple as cardboard. His work proved that innovative thinking and resourcefulness can compete with cutting-edge smart materials in today’s highly competitive design industry..

This trip provided a fantastic opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of STEM from multiple perspectives. They engaged with world-renowned experts, demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm, and represented the school brilliantly. It was also wonderful to see new friendships form as they shared these incredible experiences.

A busy but truly rewarding few days, I can’t wait to see how this inspiration feeds into our curriculum!