At the beginning of the academic year, our East Durham Sixth Form female and non-binary students, studying on STEM subjects, were given the chance to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get on the ‘Upskill Me’s Empowered Females in STEM’ programme, which is sponsored by a host of global STEM companies, including Pfizer, Facebook, Google, BP, Dyson, Salesforce, L’Oréal, Citrix, Colt, GE and UCB.
Only 300 places were available and, out of the over 1300 applications nationwide, seven of our ED6 students have successfully been offered places and will begin the programme later this month in Manchester. The programme will give A Level students: Lucy Valums, Laura Merritt, Molly Barnes-Tate, Caitlyn Balmer, Chloe Hubble, Evie Thompson and Hannah Earl the opportunity to attend masterclasses, receive mentoring from a diverse range of women with successful STEM related-careers and the chance to carry out a Dyson projects-based learning challenge with student.
Lucy Valums said: “I’m most looking forward to working with female mentors who we can learn from”. Fellow student Chloe Hubble added "I'm excited to gain practical experience within the STEM field, a subject I'm really passionate about." Molly Barnes Tate is most excited by the "prospects of undertaking a work experience placement alongside other aspiring, ambitious women in the STEM field; these opportunities will enable me to have a glimpse into careers and professions I would otherwise not be aware of." And Evie Thompson is "looking forward to the valuable work experience and connections I will gain through the programme, which will aid me in my future career in STEM."
Wanda Scott, Head of East Durham Sixth Form, believes the programme will massively benefit the students by giving them access to mentoring from inspirational females and non-binary people in STEM and an opportunity to develop their skills and confidence. The programme will also enhance our students university applications and their employability chances in the future. Caitlyn Balmer said "It will give me the opportunity to be part of an established community of successful and inspirational females in STEM and gain in confidence through the program which will help me in my future endeavours."
