Pioneering partnership between East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm recognised at Humber Renewables Awards
Last night East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm took home the award in the Renewable Education Category at the Humber Renewables Awards for their ambitious and innovative East Riding Dogger Bank Primary Programme.
The programme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, enabled by the construction of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, to invest in a unique partnership of local education networks, national teacher’s continued professional development providers and industry, to create a lasting legacy of excellence in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education and careers from ages three to eleven.
The project offers a tailored range of opportunities for all 124 primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire and aims to connect learning in schools to the jobs and opportunities of the future. The partnership was formed to counteract the subtle, but powerful messages around job and career aspirations which children form at a very young age. The programme is delivered in partnership with specialist providers, Complete Careers, Stem Learning and PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark), who underpin and support professional development for teachers.
The Dogger Bank Primary Programme has been received with great enthusiasm by schools, teachers and pupils and the partnership is proud to have been shortlisted. Over a three-year period, all 124 primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire can benefit from the programme in a way that supports their school individually. There are three strands in the programme: increasing the skills knowledge and expertise of teachers engaged in STEM in early years; to recognise quality in the science offer across all ages; and embedding of careers education in the primary curriculum. Schools can draw upon national providers, meet specialist teachers in the field and work with industry partners. All three strands benefit not just the teachers and pupils, but also families and the local community.
Community investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Lindsay Dougan, said:
“I’m really proud to be celebrating with our partners who brought our programme to life. This programme is ground-breaking and it has taken trust, dedication and passion to bring this unique approach to fruition. Our programme has been carefully designed to foster and nurture schools to achieve a “learn it, see it, be it” ethos around STEM and career aspirations.
“By allowing each school to tailor their own programme, more children will be able to see themselves in STEM careers and ultimately become the talent needed to take the UK to Net Zero.”
Sara Fletcher education and skills partnership manager East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The scale and ambition of the East Riding Dogger Bank Primary Programme will support and impact the entire region, embedding career discussions and activities in primaries to help young people understand the breadth of opportunities available. We know from our experience engaging with local schools how keen young people are to challenge themselves to live sustainable lives. That’s why we want this programme to lead towards a cultural change so our young people can be trailblazers in STEM and their careers.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm, is being built off the East Coast in three 1.2GW phases : Dogger Bank A, B and C. It is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is investing £1m in its key communities during the construction of this wind farm and working with education providers to help young people to unlock their future potential through enhanced science, technology, engineering and maths provision. The Dogger Bank team has worked with local education providers in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar & Cleveland and South Tyneside to create a bespoke legacy for the wind farm that addresses the specific educational needs of each community.
The wind farm is currently under construction more than 130km off the coast in the North Sea, and is expected to start generating power in the summer.
The Humber Renewable Awards celebrate the region’s commitment to green energy, honouring organisations large and small at the forefront of the UK’s zero-carbon emissions.
About East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a local government organisation providing a range of services to East Riding residents including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The councils’ education and schools, improvement and learning service which is the key service involved in this submission.
In the East Riding and beyond in South Tyneside and Redcar and Cleveland, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm education partnerships are inspiring children and young people for a working life in a net-zero world. Within the East Riding during the construction of the wind farm, a unique partnership of local education networks, national CPD providers and The Dogger Bank Wind Farm aims to increase and expand the knowledge of children in STEM and the jobs of the future.
About the delivery partners
Complete Careers is a Licensed Awarding Body for the National Quality in Careers Standard, using the Career Mark method; assessing excellence in careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provision, following the changes in relation to the Quality in Careers Standard in March 2017.
The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a school improvement programme that transforms primary schools and communities – growing confident leaders and teachers of science, building children’s attainment and aspiration in science, and shaping the culture of a primary school into a place where every child, teacher and family believes that ‘science is for them’. PSQM is based at the University of Hertfordshire and the programme is delivered to over 600 UK and international schools each year. www.psqm.org.uk
STEM Learning is a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising young people’s engagement and achievement in STEM. It is the largest UK provider of STEM education and careers support to schools, colleges and community groups working with young people. Visit www.stem.org.uk @STEMLearningUK