Stromness Academy and Orkney College UHI combine together to provide professional development opportunity for student teacher.

Stromness Academy and Orkney College has teamed up with the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN), in Switzerland, to provide a local student teacher with a study trip to learn with some of the world’s top scientists.

Earlier this month, student teacher Colin Risbridger joined 13 physics teachers from across the UK and visited the site of the large hadron collider in Geneva to witness up close some of the latest discoveries in particle physics.

National shortages in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has led to an increasing demand for including this pioneering work in pupils lessons and hopefully lead to a greater interest in STEM subjects.

The CERN UK teacher programme, which is supported by Project ENTHUSE, provides teachers with the opportunity to attend lectures and learn about CERN’s facilities, functions and operation from the scientists and engineers who work there.

Mr Risbridger said: “Going to CERN, I experienced a vibrant atmosphere and really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with front-line scientists and engineers. To inspire pupils, you need to be inspiring, CERN provided me with a real inspiration and I plan to take my enthusiasm back to the classroom and inspire more budding young scientists, engineers and technicians, who are in greater demand countrywide.”

Mr Blance, Principal Teacher of Physics in Stromness Academy added: “We positively encourage our teachers to develop new knowledge and gain new experiences as this can only make the teaching of physics much more enjoyable and meaningful for the students.”

Mrs Grieve, Assistance Principal of Orkney College added: “This is the first year we have been able to offer the PGDE Secondary Teacher training within Orkney and the CERN study trip is exactly the type of opportunity we like to facilitate for our students in STEM subjects.”