Colchester County High School for Girls hosts roadshow

Colchester County High School for Girls played host to the Aerospace Careers Programme (ACP) charity.

The group works to support young people, from any background, to access fulfilling careers in engineering-based industries, especially aerospace, space and aviation.

An expansion of the aerospace industry and related drone technologies is forecast over the next decade, potentially leaving a significant shortage of engineers.

Success - Principal Gillian Marshall (left) and Colchester MP Pam Cox (Image: CCHSG) Keeping students up to date with accurate and relevant information about such a fast-changing industry can be a challenge for any school. 

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and virtual reality will also provide enormous career opportunities.

Innovative - Pam Cox assessing one of the robots 'Spot' which was brought along to the roadshow (Image: CCHSG) CCHSG was happy to host the event, which included industry speakers and role models.

Alongside CCHSG students at the event were groups from other schools within the Alpha Trust such as Manningtree High School, The Gilberd School and Trinity School.

The star of the event was 'Spot', a very agile, canine-like quadruped robot, developed by Boston Dynamics.

As well as robotics, students had the opportunity to experience sessions featuring virtual reality, 3D printing and filming via a camera equipped drone.

Interested - students listening to one of the guest speakers (Image: CCHSG) Executive Principal and chief executive Gillian Marshall said: "We pride ourselves on being a forward looking and innovative trust.

"The ACP roadshow provided an excellent forum for students to engage with professionals working in the forefront of the aerospace industry and to gain an insight into exciting future developments and career pathways.

"We are very grateful to ACP for providing this opportunity."

Colchester's MP Pam Cox paid a visit, she said: “It was great to see pupils from many of our secondary schools working together at this event and getting a fantastic chance to try out advanced technologies for themselves - from virtual graphic design to robotics.”

For more information on the roadshow, visit Home Page – The Schools' Aerospace Careers Programme

You can also find out more at aerospacecareersprogramme.co.uk.