Partnering with Tees Valley primaries
Sofia has partnered with a Tees Valley multi-academy trust to deliver an offshore wind education programme to local primary schools, spreading the word to under 12s about the technology and its wide range of exciting careers.
The primary school programme, involving the creation of a series of offshore wind teaching resources, is in partnership with the Tees Valley Education Trust (TVET), a five school multi-academy trust which includes the two primary schools closest to Sofia’s onshore infrastructure – Wilton and Dormanston.
The students - particularly at the two closest schools - will be able to see the project's onshore infrastructure take shape, so the initiative aims to help bring it to life by providing them with hands-on experiential learning days to accompany the teaching resources.
Katrina Morley, TVET Chief Executive Officer said that the Sofia-education partnership will ensure that local children in areas of high unemployment have an amazing opportunity to broaden their aspirations, understanding and expectations for their future.
“The green energy sector is set to boom in the Tees Valley in the coming years so this is a wonderful opportunity for our children, their communities and the region’s future,” she said.
Once the curriculum materials have been tried and tested, they will be disseminated to a wider network of approximately 20 Teesside primary schools within a catchment area of the onshore infrastructure. Online workshops will be provided for teachers to raise their understanding of offshore wind and support the materials.
Offshore wind is a growing sector with thousands of jobs due to be created in the coming decade and through Sofia's work with TVET and wider Teesside schools, the teams want to ensure that young people in the area are aware of the range of opportunities on their doorstep.
The third and final stage of the programme will see the resources made available through the Sofia website and publicised through a range of STEM and career networks to ensure the widest audience will be reached across the UK.
January 2021
