STEM
Why a focus on STEM?
- We offer a high quality STEM curriculum that inspires children and prepares them for work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths industries.
- Children can synthesise knowledge in order to think critically about the world around them and solve problems that are yet to be discovered.
- In Hartlepool, We have some of the world’s leading petrochemical and engineering firms on our doorstep. We even have our own nuclear power plant.
Partners with industry
Intelect are an engineering solutions firm working in utilities, renewable energy, food and beverage manufacturing and heavy industry. They have kindly sponsored our lab coats and will be working with our school closely on a range of exciting projects to develop our understanding of how what we learn in school is applied in real contexts.
Links with industry and FE
Every child in St Peter’s will have the chance to visit the nuclear power station during their time with us.
In 2019, all Upper KS2 pupils attended:
- a career fair attended by major petrochemical employers, universities, NHS, biomedical engineering firms, renewable energy firms and representatives from the automotive industry.
- Hartlepool FE college to explore their health, aeronautical engineering and mechanics departments
Why is this important?
Labour Market Information (2018 data)
| Sector | Hartlepool (%) | National (%) |
| Manufacturing (including engineering solutions) | 12.1 | 8.1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2.8 | 0.5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| Construction | 6 | 4.7 |
Guest Speakers
Here are some of the people we have heard from through web chats, STEM lectures or visits to school.
Dr Michael Foale (former NASA astronaut) with our KS2 pupils 
Dave Coplin (Chief Envisioning Officer for Microsoft UK and founder of the Envisioners Ltd. ) 
Marcus Du Sautoy (noted British mathematician and author) 
Professor Robert Winston (British professor, medical doctor and scientist) 
Helen Sharman (British chemist who became the first British cosmonaut and the first woman to visit the MIR space station in May 1991) 
Dr Theodosiou (parent and local vet)
Engineers from Durham University have worked with our pupils to develop their understanding of renewable energy.
STEM days
In 2018-19, every child in KS2 at St Peter’s took part in at least one off-site STEM day delivered by secondary specialists and industry leaders.
STEM Club
We have had to expand our STEM club this year as last year there was a waiting list! Our STEM club meets every Friday. #Projects so far include:
- Designed and made solar-powered cars to be evaluated by a real racing engineer
- Created our own signature colour and coloured jelly crystals using superabsorbent polymers
- Made and tested ballasted life boats with a working winch.
- Created our own computer games
- Dug for fossils in our own replica dig
- Built a boat and competed against other schools in the Wind In Your Sails competition
- Dismantled a hard drive to see what’s inside
Our Stem Ambassadors 2019-20
We are proud to announce that St Peter’s Elwick Church of England Primary School has been named as the Lead School for the Ogden Trust Science Partnership in Hartlepool. Working alongside Hart Primary School and with several other schools in the town – both secondary and primary- the partnership aims to develop the teaching and learning of Science, particularly Physics, through sharing best practice and supporting transition of pupils from primary to secondary and beyond. This partnership will form a key part in sharing our commitment to STEM achievement and aspirations with our wider community.
