University of Manchester and Brian Cox lead UK STEM education drive in Oldham schools and colleges

In a two-day series of events in the UK town of Oldham, the University of Manchester and Professor Brian Cox worked with schools, local government, and industry to promote STEM learning and career opportunities for young people.

Photo credit: University of Manchester

The University of Manchester and Professor Brian Cox hosted a series of education and outreach events in Oldham this month, aimed at boosting long-term STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) career opportunities for local students.

The initiative, delivered under the banner of ‘Great Horizons’, included assemblies, professional development for teachers, business engagement, and student Q&As. It was supported by a coalition of local partners including Oldham Council, the Cranmer Education Trust, Oldham Athletic Football Club, and the Oldham Enterprise Trust.

The events formed part of the University of Manchester’s broader involvement in the Great Science Share for Schools, a national initiative encouraging young learners to ask questions, explore scientific ideas, and share their findings with others.

Celebrating science teaching and school leadership

On July 1, more than 250 teachers from across Oldham participated in a professional development event coordinated by the Cranmer Trust. The session, which focused on enhancing science teaching in schools, included a keynote appearance by Professor Cox.

The following day, Cox visited four local primary schools to speak with pupils and promote participation in the Great Science Share for Schools, which marked its tenth anniversary this year. Additional visits from civic leaders and local professionals helped raise the profile of STEM teaching across the town.

Professor Lynne Bianchi, Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Manchester, said: “The two days were powerful in bringing the town’s industry and education partners together. It’s been a real place-based approach that is starting something that will have legacy beyond these launch events. The key now is to harness the energy that spued out of each event and identify key actions that can impact on young people in the short and longer term.”

Connecting education and industry

Later in the day, Cox met with business leaders, council officials, and local employers to discuss how to build sustainable pathways between education and employment in STEM. That evening, he hosted a Q&A with students at Oldham Sixth Form College, answering questions about science and his own career.

The events were designed to link school and college education with real-world applications, with input from Oldham’s Economy Board and the town’s football club.

Dave Benstead, Chair of the Oldham Enterprise Trust and Oldham’s Economy Board, says: “We set out to optimise STEM-Industry-School-College partnerships which will lead to greater exposure of a variety of STEM career options, broaden students’ perspectives and help them make more informed decisions as they progress through education. Our young people need a clearer understanding of the real-world problems that STEM-related careers can address and Professor Brian Cox achieved this, grabbing their interest and motivation as only he can.”

The two-day initiative was coordinated by the University’s Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH), with a focus on increasing collaboration between schools and employers. Organizers highlighted the importance of building on the momentum generated to create lasting improvements in STEM provision and career readiness.

Professor Cox adds: “It is, as always, wonderful to spend time in Oldham. The town is full of talent and energy; from the primary schools to the business leaders and, of course, the football club. Oldham was at the heart of the great transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries, and it’s exciting, and an honor, to be part of Oldham’s 21st-century renaissance.”