High Voltage – How National Grid’s Energy Education Centre is sparking interest in STEM subjects
An education centre run by the gas and electricity infrastructure operator, National Grid, is helping to inspire tomorrow’s engineers by taking primary science lessons out of the classroom and right inside one of London’s largest energy projects. First established three years ago, The National Grid Energy Education Centre in London is a free facility designed […]
An education centre run by the gas and electricity infrastructure operator, National Grid, is helping to inspire tomorrow’s engineers by taking primary science lessons out of the classroom and right inside one of London’s largest energy projects.
First established three years ago, The National Grid Energy Education Centre in London is a free facility designed to help young people’s understanding of energy and encourage an interest in science, and been visited by over 5000 students to date.
The centre is located at the headquarters of National Grid’s London Power Tunnels Project (a £1billion project to rewire the capital), thus giving students the opportunity to witness engineering in action and learn more about the project directly from National Grid engineers. Visiting parties are able to even walk through a section of the tunnels and gaze down a 50m shaft to the tunnel route below.
Going underground Among the centre’s recent visitors was Katrina Forrest, Phase 3 Leader at Richard Cobden School in Camden, who visited the centre with 60 Y4 pupils to support their lessons on energy and sustainability. “The students were amazed to be able to go underground and see the tunnel,” she recalls. “It was a very effective way of demonstrating how energy travels around. Importantly, the students were able to gain an understanding about what is happening in London and the increasing electricity demands in the Capital. They also really enjoyed trying on the hard hats and the high visibility jackets. It made them feel like real engineers!”
Working alongside the youth and education charity City Year, National Grid delivers ‘School Power’ learning sessions at the Centre aimed at primary schools that comprise a series of interactive science workshops that can be delivered during school hours. Specifically developed to support the KS2 science curriculum, each 90-minute session covers themes including energy, forces and materials and can be held in the morning or afternoon.
For more information about The National Grid Energy Education Centre and details of how to book a visit, email nationalgrid@londonpowertunnels.co.uk or visit www.londonpowertunnels.co.uk/energy-education-centre, where teachers can also download a series of teaching materials to support their visit.
