Schools Programme
The aim of the NLHPP Schools programme is to stimulate local student’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, as well as construction, engineering and waste infrastructure related careers. The programme is offered to secondary schools, as well as primary, and can also be adapted for students with additional needs or those outside of mainstream education, including Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools as well as Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).
The programme is available to any school within the seven north London boroughs which are served by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), which covers Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. The engagements offered range from in person workshops at school (which involves a presentation and activity) as well as attending careers fairs. The Project also offers site visits, as an opportunity for local students to view the construction site in Edmonton. All site visits include an optional tour of the Reuse and Recycling Centre and Resource Recovery Facility where possible.
Our sessions are delivered by professionals who are working on the NLHPP across a wide range of roles, from planning and architecture to legal and finance, as well as communications, construction and engineering. This allows the project to offer young people in north London a first hand insight into the range of roles and activities required to deliver a large scale construction project.
The NLHPP can also offer work experience placements to local students in Year 10 and above, depending on availability. These placements can also be adapted for students with additional needs. Please email education@nlwa.gov.uk for more information.
Secondary School Sessions
The sessions delivered to secondary schools are structured around three key topics listed below, with career insights embedded within each one. For further information about the individual sessions (including aims of the sessions, activities and alignment with the Gatsby Benchmarks), click on each topic below:
- Energy from Waste
- Introduces students to the process of energy from waste production, and includes a comparison to other sources of energy, and its environmental and climate benefits.
- Delivering a Large-Scale Construction Project
- Introduces students to the project lifecycle of a nationally significant infrastructure construction project, the stages of the project lifecycle, as well as the various professions involved in delivery.
- 'She Can Construct'
- Introduces students to the breadth of roles undertaken by women on the NLHPP. The session aim is to engage young women and girls consider a career within the construction and engineering sectors to address the current industry gender imbalance.
Primary School Sessions
For primary schools, the NLHPP deliver a ‘Guardians of the Earth’ workshop which is appropriate for KS2 (ages 7-11) . The workshop focuses on the role students can play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). For further information about the session (including the aim of the sessions, activities and curriculum links), click on the topic overview below:
- Guardians of the Earth
- The programme, featuring five original characters called the Guardians of the Earth, delivers thought-provoking activities to explain the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to students and promote practical ways to contribute to them.
Site Visits
As well as in person visits to schools, the Project also invites local students to the NLHPP for construction site visits, which involves a tour of the facility (dependent on risk assessment) and a workshop session. Below is a typical timetable of what may be involved in a site visit tour:
|
10:00 |
Arrive on Site |
|
10:10-10:50 |
Students will be split into two groups. Half will go on a Site tour and the other half will attend a workshop. The workshop involves a presentation on a chosen topic (dependent on age group), videos, and then an interactive activity. |
|
10:50-11:20 |
Break |
|
11:20-12:00 |
Group activities rotate |
|
12:00-12:30 |
Q&A feedback session |
Please note that as a result of health and safety concerns, students may not be able to be able to participate in a walk round the site, and virtual materials may be used as an alternative. This will be communicated to schools prior to their visit.
Site visits are available to book on the first and third Thursday of each month. A maximum of 20 students (excluding staff) can attend. Please email education@nlwa.gov.uk to express an interest in this.
Feedback we've received from students about the sessions include:
‘It was very informative and made me consider a job in the industry’
‘The activities made me aware of how little things we can do in school can really help the environment’
'I learnt many things but what I like most is how the project can give us heat and power. Very cool’
‘I enjoyed learning about this and have learnt a lot. This will help me in my future and it was fun’
‘I have learnt a lot about the project and know how to be more eco-friendly’
'Very good to learn about how we can change the world'
In addition to the school engagement programme carried out in conjunction to the NLHPP, the NLWA also has a number of online tools for teachers and education practitioners to use in the classroom. These resources are targeted towards primary school students in KS1 (ages 5-7) and KS2 (ages 7-11) and in particular, are centred on learning about waste prevention and recycling.
For further details, please follow this link: North London Waste Education Hub | NLWA