Rolls-Royce

Support for education is a significant way in which Rolls-Royce works to improve the communities in which we live.

The company is investing in education in order to raise standards, promote engineering, science, technology, business and enterprise, develop our employees, influence policy and strategy in education and support future resourcing needs.

Rolls-Royce is one of the Bristol-based companies that founded ABLAZE with the aim of improving attainment, attendance and achievement in Bristol schools. As part of this involvement, the company provides support to many local primary and secondary schools each year. This includes a wide range of work-related visit programmes, work experience placements, support for school governors and many other customised activities

Each year Rolls-Royce at Bristol works with over 30 local schools on a range of subjects. The main Primary school activities are 2 science & engineering workshops, High Flyers and Forces & Motion, plus support for numeracy and literacy by Reading Buddies and Number Partners.

The main Secondary activities focus on supporting mock interviews, providing curriculum focused events for GCSE and A Level pupils and supporting Enterprise events. The main enterprise activity is a business game called Capture the Market. In addition, each year approximately 70 pupils visit the site for work experience. In the 2007-8 school year, a science & engineering challenge will be piloted for a whole year group of year 9 pupils in 6 Bristol schools.

The curriculum focused events are varied, as each is designed to support a specific aspect of the curriculum. The other main programmes are summarised below.

High Flyers

High Flyers is run by a small group of Graduates and Modern Apprentices, who are called ‘The High Flyers'. The workshop is designed for Year 3 - 4 pupils, runs for a whole morning or afternoon and takes place within the school for a whole class. The pupils are taken on a journey around the ‘Engineering World'. They learn key concepts about engineering and the jet engine through a variety of media including discussions, small group activities, design, making and puzzles.

Forces and Motion

Forces and Motion is an interactive workshop, focusing on key stage 2 forces and motion. It is designed for year 6 pupils as a support activity prior to the SATs or for year 5 during June & July to provide examples that can be used the following year.

Each workshop runs at Rolls-Royce, from approximately 9.30 - 2.30, for a whole class and contains two main sections. The first features presentations, discussion and pupil participation. The second involves the pupils working in small teams to design, build and test a jet-powered aircraft.

Capture the Market

Capture the Market is a fun two-hour business game designed to support Enterprise Education and enable pupils to practice Keyskills. The workshop is suitable for any secondary age group, but usually runs for a whole year group of year 9 -10 pupils

Pupils work in teams to design, manufacture and sell products, so that they make a profit. Money has to be borrowed and repaid to buy materials and the teams must negotiate a contract with buyers for their products.