Gosport school reaps rewards from new project

Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is a policy being pushed across schools to combine all four subjects and encourage careers in the respective areas.

But Bridgemary School, in Gosport, has decided to take it one step further and add art, making STEAM.

Staff at the school believe that it allows children to be more creative – and are using the popular films to keep pupils engaged.

Year 7 students last year were given the theme of Harry Potter.

Pupils in the year above are now doing work around The Hunger Games.

Emma Cairns, head of art and technology, said STEAM is something she is very passionate about and she sees children reap the rewards in each classroom.

Emma said: ‘Because the projects we run are all linked, we find children’s attendance has improved, with positive outcomes because they know they cannot afford to miss any lessons.

‘There have also been positive outcomes in student progress and behaviour.’

‘STEAM allows students to be challenged and learn in a creative way.

‘The whole idea is that you need to be a creative thinker and that comes heavily with art.

‘It has totally transformed me as a teacher and opens so many doors up for students as there as so many STEAM jobs in Fareham and Gosport.’

The project has been selected to help spearhead a scheme being pulled together by Artswork, the Arts Council bridge organisation for south-east England.

Jane Bryant. chief executive of Artswork, said: ‘We hope that the case studies from our STEAM networks will act to inspire educational thinking across a very wide range of schools.’