Primary pupils from East Dunbartonshire schools recently got a taste of what STEM subjects in secondary school are like.
The Kirkintilloch STEM Festival, held at the Town Hall, was organised by the council’s Primary Science Development Officer for the Raising Aspirations in Science Education (RAiSE) programme and the Developing the Young Workforce – Lanarkshire & East Dunbartonshire (DYW LED) team for pupils in the Kirkintilloch High catchment area.
The event aimed to give P7 pupils a taste of secondary school life for those interested in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Around 20 industry partners participated, offering hands-on activities such as straw model building, explosive experiments, computer games, and fingerprint forensics.
Councillor Lynda Williamson, convener of East Dunbartonshire’s Education Committee, said: “I’m delighted that this event took place in East Dunbartonshire and that so many pupils got the chance to explore the myriad opportunities offered by STEM subjects. “It showed how these subjects apply to real-life situations and I’m sure will have sparked an interest in some students who have never considered the importance and opportunities offered by STEM before.”
Jackie Gillespie, headteacher at Harestanes Primary, said: “Our Primary 7 pupils had a phenomenal time at the Kirkintilloch STEM Festival. “The children were inspired from start to finish. What a fantastic day.”
The participating schools were Craighead Primary, Harestanes Primary, Hillhead Primary, Lennoxtown Primary, Oxgang Primary, Twechar Primary, and Woodland View School.
There are discussions about similar projects in other cluster areas, and more events are being planned as part of British Science Week 2025.