RAF celebrates centenary with school teaching kits

Teaching kits to encourage youngsters into engineering and science careers have been delivered to Moray schools by the RAF.

To mark its centenary, the RAF have teamed up with the Royal Academy of Engineering to bring 100 years of aeronautical engineering to life in classrooms across the UK with ‘Aiming for Awesome’ teaching packs for primary schools.

Yesterday a number of Moray teachers were presented with their packs, which contain challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Moray Council’s primary science development officer, Janey Irving, said the packs are a fantastic resource for teachers and pupils.

“The RAF have had a long history in Moray contributing to our local landscape and culture and this resource puts STEM learning into local context,” she said.

“Encouraging STEM learning in our schools has been a key focus of the partnership with RAF Lossiemouth and the council, which has also seen the development of the ‘STEM in the Workplace’ event for our P6 pupils and a host of secondary school activities.

“Together we used these to develop a Moray –wide project for primary pupils that will link STEM activities to researching career opportunities in aerospace engineering, the history of the RAF in Moray and their humanitarian role in the world.”

Education teams from both organisations have combined their expertise to create 10 different ‘Aiming for Awesome’ STEM challenges for teachers to set for school children this year. The challenges reflect some of the key engineering innovations that have shaped the RAF for 100 years.

Funded by cash from the Libor banking case, the packs cover a wide variety of engineering and technology challenges, from aircraft design, radar and code-breaking to disaster relief, satellite technology and remote piloting.

Head of all youth and school engagement activities at RAF Lossiemouth, Sarah Riley-Evans, said:“RAF Lossiemouth is delighted that our RAF100 STEM 'Aiming for Awesome' boxes have been so well received and are being rolled out across the region. It is a superb resource for local primary schools linking the 100 years of engineering heritage within the Royal Air Force with modern STEM lesson plans which seek to inspire a future generation.”

Air Vice-Marshal Sue Gray, Air Officer Commanding Number 38 Group and head of the RAF’s Engineer branch, said:

“I am delighted that we have partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering as part of our expanded youth programme for RAF100.

“These exciting STEM resources will deliver free and curriculum-based education in schools across the UK.

“This is one of the many initiatives where we are working with partner organisations to address the engineering skills shortage; helping to benefit our economy by inspiring the next generation of innovators.”