- 14 October 2025
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm’s education programme delivers measurable impact in Tees Valley schools
A final evaluation of the RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm’s teacher-training programme has confirmed that the initiative has had a significant and positive impact on students’ understanding of offshore wind energy and their interest in renewable energy careers.
The Champions for Wind programme ran from 2020 to 2025, targeting secondary school students aged 12 to 18 across the Tees Valley Combined Authority education area. Following an end-of-programme celebration, the Sofia team has now expanded the programme into North East Lincolnshire.
The programme aims to connect the rapidly developing offshore wind sector with the classroom by equipping teachers, known as ‘Teacher Champions’ to integrate offshore wind content into the curriculum. Supported by education specialists Mike Cargill of UK STEM and Sofia education consultant Rich Hurst, participating teachers receive access to training and resources to enhance lesson content. The goal is to increase students’ knowledge of the wind industry and to inspire them to consider related careers, especially in the local context of Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
An independent evaluation carried out by Teesside University followed three cohorts of students over the four-year period. Using a mix of surveys, focus groups and interviews, the research team assessed how the programme effected student knowledge, interest and career awareness. In total, 191 students completed pre- and post- programme surveys. The results showed statistically significant gains in knowledge across all key themes, including how offshore wind farms operate, the construction process and the specific opportunities offered by the Sofia project. Students also demonstrated increased interest in learning more about careers in the sector.
Notably, the evaluation found that both boys and girls benefited from the programme. Across the board, students recalled more technical and STEM-related careers at the end of the programme than they did at the start, showing a broader understanding of the types of roles involved in the renewables sector. In open-ended responses, students also identified a wide range of personal qualities necessary for working in the industry, including teamwork, resilience, leadership and a strong work ethic.
A focus group conducted with Year 8 pupils in the final year of the project echoed these findings. Students spoke positively about hands-on elements, such as building wind turbine models, and were particularly impressed by the scale of operations at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm. For many, the programme was their first encounter with the concept that a major green energy infrastructure project was being developed in their own community. Several participants expressed pride in the environmental benefits and economic potential of local renewable projects, noting that the lessons made the industry feel more real and relevant to their lives.
Teachers also praised the flexibility of the programme, which allowed them to tailor content to their schools' needs.
However, some challenges were noted. Integrating the material into already crowded timetables proved difficult, particularly for students in exam years, and some staff felt that wider institutional support would have improved delivery. Despite this, the collaborative nature of the initiative was widely valued.
Many teacher champions appreciated the opportunities to share ideas and resources with peers from other schools. The programme's funding was also cited as a crucial enabler, allowing schools to invest in materials and experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible.
In some cases, the impact of the programme extended beyond the classroom. One teacher recounted how a student used their project work as part of a successful university application to study electronic engineering.
The report concludes that Champions for Wind achieved its aim of boosting young people's knowledge and interest in the offshore wind sector. It recommends expanding the approach through more practical sessions, greater inclusion of site visits, stronger institutional buy-in and the development of resources tailored for post-16 education.
The RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is set to become one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world. RWE has the largest development portfolio for offshore wind projects in the UK. Planned investments will continue to create green jobs, developing a skilled workforce up and down the country.
Read the full the full report below
