Astor Secondary School, an 11–18 years mixed, secondary school and sixth form with academy status in Dover, Kent was delighted to receive support from The STEM Hub as part of Engineering UK's Big Bang at Schools programme.

At the end of each academic year, Astor Secondary School hosts an activities week for students in Years 7-10. This week features a diverse range of enrichment activities, including trips to the leisure centre and Dover Castle, work experience opportunities, charity walks and the school's very own 'Astorbury' Festival. These activities provide students with a chance to learn and grow outside the traditional classroom setting, fostering both educational and personal development.

To enhance the exciting end-of-year program, two workshops organised by The STEM Hub, with the support of several STEM Ambassadors, were held on July 17 and 18. These workshops provided Years 7-9 students with the opportunity to engage in activities that are typically not available to them, fostering a deeper interest in STEM.

A forensic workshop, “Solve the Crime” delivered by the Canterbury Christ Church University Forensics Team, was set up as a ‘Murder Mystery’ scenario within the school grounds. The students enthusiastically participated, moving between stations and engaging in various short activities that kept their interest high throughout the session. A Year 8 tutor remarked: "It was lovely to see students who wouldn't normally join in being drawn into the scenario and working as a team." The workshop team was friendly, energetic, and passionate, which helped maintain student engagement and minimise distractions, allowing for full immersion during the 45-minute session.

The second workshop delivered by The University of Kent focused on medicine. Students began with a brief information session, enhanced by thought-provoking questions about real-life medicines, such as "How much does paracetamol cost?" and "What is the most expensive medicine you can think of?" The session leader, a professional in the medical field, shared insights from her work related to cancer, which captivated the students. A highlight of this workshop was the hands-on activity where students created 'model medicines.' With worksheets, equipment, and support from ambassadors, students crafted clay models and particularly enjoyed using balloons. The staff's professionalism and organisation ensured that the sessions ran smoothly and were highly educational.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and developed their team building skills, knowledge on medicines, forensics and it inspired conversations about future careers.

Astor Secondary School expressed its gratitude to The STEM Hub for supporting its activities week and hopes to continue collaborating with the team in the new academic year.

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