Ten thousand tickets for ACS International Schools’ STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) day at Thorpe Park were snapped up within an hour when they were released earlier this year.
The educational event will take over the whole park on 4 October, in a bid to encourage participants to consider careers in the sector.
The programme of expert speakers, activities, exhibits and workshops will feature giant robots, live science demonstrations, orchestral performances and supersonic cars, thanks to partner organisations including the RAF and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The orchestra will be playing at the front gate, while the RAF will be flying in Chinook and Puma helicopters, with flight crews available to chat to the pupils.
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While all of the park rides will be open as normal, attendees will only be allowed access if they are able to demonstrate learning from either activities on the day itself, or pre-event exercises posted online.
“We hope that this unique event, with the participation of many fantastic organisations, will enhance a wide range of students’ learning while giving them the opportunity to learn more about the many exciting STEAM opportunities available to them in the future,” said Graeme Lawrie, partnerships director at ACS International Schools.
“It is estimated that three million people in the UK will be employed in a STEM occupation by 2027. STEM skills, therefore, when combined with the valuable creative skills developed in the arts, are now a core area of demand for employers.
“From film animators, to engineers, to software developers, these varied careers are of high interest amongst young people, so it is essential to bridge the skills gap now to ensure the next generation has access to these growing opportunities.”
