Year 10 Girls are inspired at RAF Museum Women in STEM Event
On 10th June, our Year 10 girls attended the Women in STEM event at the RAF Museum, enjoying a day packed with inspiration, hands-on activities and career exploration.
The day began with a keynote talk from Helen Seymour and Nic "Rosie" Steevenson, former Royal Air Force officers who flew together on Tornado fighter jets. Helen made history as the UK's first female Eurofighter Typhoon pilot, while Rosie served as a Weapons Systems Officer. They shared their experiences of overcoming discrimination and setbacks, highlighting the importance of resilience, collaboration, adaptability and learning from failure. Their message encouraged students to embrace challenges and have the confidence to pursue ambitious goals.
Students then explored a careers exhibition, meeting professionals from a wide range of STEM fields. Activities included programming a robotic arm at the Middlesex University stand, trying on British Airways cabin crew uniforms, learning about organ donation with NHS representatives, and speaking to paramedics and veterinary professionals about their careers. The girls also took part in an engineering challenge to design and build model aeroplanes.
A particular highlight, the museum encouraged our students to organise and participate in a debate on whether individuals can make a positive impact on climate change, demonstrating thoughtful discussion and critical thinking. We were incredibly proud of our students, who worked collaboratively with girls from Mill Hill County High School whom they had never met before. Using the fact sheets provided, they quickly analysed evidence, developed informed arguments and confidently presented their views. The activity showcased their teamwork, critical thinking and communication skills.
The day left a lasting impression on all our students who all had very positive experiences during the day. Aniyah said it inspired her to pursue a career helping others, while Sienna enjoyed hearing from successful women across diverse professions and found the experience helpful in considering her future career path.
The girls returned with plenty of freebies, valuable advice and renewed confidence about the exciting opportunities available in STEM.
