Powering Futures Schools Challenge
Three secondary schools in East Ayrshire are participating in the Powering Future Schools Challenge and taking on sustainability challenges currently facing Scottish businesses.
Doon, Grange and Loudoun Academies have signed up to the national programme, which is in its fifth year; and Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People visited The Cargo Crew from Loudoun Academy - namely Lewis, Emma, Heidi, Blair and Cameron from S6, who are led by teacher Mrs Stewart.
The Powering Future Schools Challenge, which brings schools and industry together, sees young people working in teams to research, develop and present solutions to challenges that have been set by leading Scottish businesses.
Loudoun Academy has been partnered with Booth Welsh and have been challenged to develop a project that will benefit the local community by finding a use for old shipping containers. The team, who are all taking Leadership in addition to Powering Future Schools, will on completion of the project, receive a SCQF Level 6 qualification, equivalent to a Scottish Higher.
The young people have each been given different roles within the team and their mentors from Booth Welsh are working directly with pupils in the classroom, guiding their research and helping develop creative solutions.
Councillor Cowan said: "I really enjoyed meeting Mrs Stewart and The Cargo Crew at Loudoun Academy. The team have been challenged to find a use for old shipping containers that will benefit the local community and which also must be sustainable.
"After speaking to local contacts, including their Campus Cop, the team decided that a young person led youth club would be a great way to use a shipping container and would help divert young people from antisocial behaviour.
"They guided me through their mood board, their detailed plans for the double height shipping container, which I won't divulge at the moment, and talked me through their powerpoint presentation that they will present to judges at the Ayrshire final next March. Heidi from the team also let me know that she has been inspired to apply for a quantity surveying apprenticeship after working on this project, and I wish her all the very best with this.
"The plans were really impressive and while they are conceptual, they have thought of everything, from utilising wool from local farms for insulation to planning a location. I was also very pleased to hear that they were learning root cause analysis, which is an industry tool and really beneficial for our young people to learn before leaving school."
Mrs Stewart said: "This is the first year Loudoun Academy has participated in Powering Future Schools and our team has really embraced the challenge. They are working hard to develop their concept fully and are working closely with their mentors from Booth Welsh, who are providing advice and helping the team find solutions to identified problems. I am very proud of everything that The Cargo Crew has achieved already."