STEMLink, CHEMLink and COMPLink Primary Partnership Programmes
Year 5 students attend these sessions in groups of 12. They typically attend one session each of two types, according to preference and/or availability. Primary schools sending students can elect to use the same group of 12 students twice, or to share the experience with a different set of 12 on the second occasion. We send a Trinity minibus to provide transport to and from the session. Each session lasts 2 hours (CHEMlink or COMPlink) or 2.5 hours (STEMlink). CHEMlink focuses on practical Chemistry, COMPlink on practical Computer programming and STEMlink on a design and build exercise with a model vehicle that is then tested scientifically for performance. There is no charge to schools for the sessions or for transport. Refreshments are provided mid-session.
Aims
The aim is to give largely state educated students the opportunity to try something that they by and large cannot access at their primary school. These schools cannot generally provide these activities due to a lack of appropriate facilities, being a primary setting, funding being state maintained and/or expertise. CHEMlink focuses on practical Chemistry, COMPlink on practical Computer programming and STEMlink on a design and build exercise with a model vehicle that is then tested scientifically for performance.
Background
The scheme is a formalisation and merger of a number of individual days and events run for particular schools on a largely ad-hoc basis. Starting with STEMlink in the DT department around 7 years’ ago, it expanded to include CHEMlink as a result of an initiative from a member of our Chemistry staff around 4 years ago and then again to include COMPlink a couple of years ago as a result of my identification of the possibility of extending the programme further and the enthusiastic support of the Head of IT and his colleague in devising and delivering the activity.
Resources
The sessions use mostly Trinity School teaching staff, though STEMlink and CHEMlink rely on some preparatory support from departmental technical staff. CHEMlink particularly requires a good few hours from the Junior Science technician in the preparation of chemicals and clearing away and washing equipment after each session. All costs are met by Trinity School and no charge is made to those attending. As well as the resources and staffing, Trinity provides transport arrangements for schools that require it.
Impact
There is not any assessment process in place. We know from the enthusiastic remarks made by visiting schools and their students both during and after the sessions, however, that they are enormously enjoyed and appreciated.
In terms of numbers we benefit 41 sets of 12 students. Depending on how the primary schools selects their participants and how much overlap they have between their two sessions, this could mean anything from around 250 to 500 students.
Impact Statements:
My son goes to Al Khair school and came to your school for a Design & Technology lesson to make a car. My son thoroughly enjoyed this and was wondering if you have any clubs like this at all or know of any (that he might join in the local area).
Parent
What can I say except THANK YOU SO MUCH. When I told the children they were ready they were very excited – I can’t get out of doing this club now!
Admin Officer, South Norwood Academy
Pupil Involvement
There are no pupils from Trinity are involved. The pupils attending are from Primary Year 5 and roughly evenly divided between genders, according to the preference/selection criteria of the visiting school.
Frequency
Each session is a single, stand-along event. Each of the three strands; CHEMlink, STEMlink and COMPlink has a session running once per fortnight, with around 14 sessions over the school year fitted in around exam periods, etc. The scheme has to be reviewed on an annual basis since availability of teaching accommodation and teaching staff has to be juggled to get everything to fit. It is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, subject to these logistical constraints.