This term six Year 8 learners from Ninestiles, an Academy, part of the Summit Learning Trust, had the incredible opportunity to take part in the BBC’s national WiSTEM (Women in STEM) Day, held at the BBC’s Birmingham HQ at The Mailbox.
Students Inayah, Gracious, Precious, Oluwanifemi, another Inayah, and Amelia represented Ninestiles in this inspiring event, which connected learners from across the UK, including teams at BBC London, BBC Manchester, and BBC Edinburgh via live Zoom sessions.
The day was packed with exciting hands on activities. Learners took the lead in directing and filming a two-minute news segment, programmed robots through coding challenges, explored AI technologies, and quizzed an expert panel featuring speakers from the European Broadcasting Union, the BBC, and trailblazing women across STEM and media industries.
The students described the day as both fun and eye-opening:
“10/10 day! It was so nice to sit on the famous red sofa,” said Inayah.
“The BBC WiSTEM Day was so fun – it was fascinating to see the behind-the-scenes action,” added Gracious.
The BBC WiSTEM initiative is part of a wider national effort to encourage greater female participation in STEM fields and give young learners real world exposure to creative and technical careers.
Alex Hughes, Headteacher at Ninestiles, an Academy said:
“We are thrilled our learners were able to take part in such a prestigious event. Opportunities like WiSTEM Day help open doors and minds, inspiring young people, especially girls, to see themselves as future leaders in science, technology, and media.”