Education and Sellafield Ltd
Sellafield Ltd is a knowledge-based company with a nationally important scientific, engineering and technology skills base. Having for many years played a part in developing the high level of skills required by the nuclear industry, we recognise that those skills are in increasingly short supply.
To meet these challenges our education programme is designed to nurture an enthusiasm for science, engineering, technology and mathematics in young people. The knowledge, understanding and skills they gain can lead to worthwhile and exciting careers, driving forward innovation and supporting the economic resurgence of our communities.
Supported by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and working with partners in the education and skills field our programme supports education throughout the school years.
Succeeding with Science
Succeeding with Science is an educational programme supported by Sellafield Ltd on behalf of the NDA.
Sellafield Ltd has gained the reputation of being one of the foremost companies in the UK for providing sponsored teaching resources.
These resources are produced for teachers by teachers. As teaching aids, they are designed to fit precisely into the curriculum and are produced to high standards of innovation and good practice. Such is the quality of these resources that they are recommended by examining bodies, curriculum advisers and subject co-ordinators.
Our newly designed education website continues the success of the programme by providing all of its resources free of charge to enable teachers and students to benefit fully from the resources on offer.
Background to Involvement
Sellafield Ltd has a long history of supporting schools on a local basis through its operating sites, but Sellafield Ltd's nationwide commitment to education began with the development of the National Curriculum.
The National Curriculum enabled Sellafield Ltd to develop science and technology teaching resources at a time when teachers were adjusting to the new curriculum which called for new content, new methodology and new classroom materials.
Through the Association for Science Education, Sellafield Ltd conducted country-wide research into the needs of science teachers in delivering the new curriculum, which provided a sound basis for Sellafield Ltd to make a relevant contribution.
Developing partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, advisers, teaching and examination bodies was a key element in Sellafield Ltd's education strategy. Consultation with people delivering education ensured that our support would be in the interest of pupils and teachers, and as such reflect positively on the company.
Local Education Support
As part of our Corporate Responsibility programme, we support our local schools in many ways.
About 200 of our employees are STEM Ambassadors (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). The programme enables teachers to make links from the curriculum to how STEM is practiced in the world of work, illuminating applications across a vast range of careers.
Ambassadors are people from STEM backgrounds who volunteer as inspiring role models for young people. They can contribute to regular lessons or extra-curricular activities and open the door to a whole new world for young people, helping them to see STEM subjects and careers with a fresh perspective.
At our Sellafield site we provide many activities for local schools such as Engineering Your Future event, RSC Top of the Bench quiz, Materials Science day, Circuits workshop, World of Work week, Engineering Education Scheme, Forensic Science workshops, Forces workshops, Robotics Days, Children Challenging Industry days, Girls in Aerospace, World Environment Day, Girls STEM day, IMechE Girls in Engineering day and Science and Engineering week.
Around Risley our 'Succeeding with Science in the classroom' education programme is delivered by Teachers from Industry, providing primary schools with 'hands-on' science workshops for pupils aged 5 to 11 in schools around Warrington, Halton and St Helens.
