Year 7 and 8 students at Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick have begun a six-week programme with the Aston Villa Foundation, exploring how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are applied within professional football.
The first workshop introduced students to the role STEM plays in professional sport, while giving them an insight into the range of careers and roles that support the modern football industry.
Academy Principal, Thomas Daly, said: “We have a responsibility to make sure our students’ experience of education is bigger than what happens in the classroom. They need opportunities to see where their learning can take them, to discover interests they may not have known they had and to understand that there are many different routes to a successful future.
“Working with an organisation like Aston Villa gives our students the chance to learn in a different environment, work alongside professionals and see the importance of the skills they’re building at school. Those experiences can change what a young person thinks is possible for them, which is a really important part of helping every student to aim higher and see further.”
The programme is being delivered by the Aston Villa Foundation, the registered charity responsible for the football club’s community and outreach work.
Working with a wide range of education providers and young people, the Foundation offers opportunities to develop skills, confidence and personal growth. Its Education and Employment strand focuses on classroom and community-based learning, training and qualifications, with a focus on supporting long-term prospects and potential.
