A Woodford Green school hopes to encourage more girls into STEM industries by starting a new creative technologies course.

Ilford Recorder: Woodford County High School has set up a new Creative Technologies class merging electronics, computer science and product design to get more girls into STEM industries.Woodford County High School has set up a new Creative Technologies class merging electronics, computer science and product design to get more girls into STEM industries. (Image: Archant)

Year 7 pupils began studying the new subject at Woodford County High School, in High Road, in September.

The course sees electronics added to computer science and product design – modules already on offer at the all girls school.

The new subject meshes these ideas together to create a useful subject applicable to pupils after they finish at Woodford County High.

Head of creative technologies Nazneen Chadee told the Recorder: “The girls married the three subjects together to make a merry go round in the first exercise.”

Ilford Recorder: Woodford County High School has set up a new Creative Technologies class merging electronics, computer science and product design to get more girls into STEM industries.Woodford County High School has set up a new Creative Technologies class merging electronics, computer science and product design to get more girls into STEM industries. (Image: Archant)

The Year 7s were given separate electrical components which they fixed together to create a working miniature version of the fairground ride.

They then designed the outside of the merry go round, and learnt how to use traditional hand tools and processes as well as computer aided design.

“The new course is about bringing it all together, which is shown in the creation of the merry go round. It’s really useful,” explained Ms Chadee.

“Being able to understand how things work in the real world is so important.”

The teacher said the children really enjoyed the electrical module, and hoped it would inspire more into technological industries.

“It is a life long cause,” Ms Chadee said, when asked about getting more girls into STEM industries.

“There’s not enough girls in technology, but this exercise shows practical points in subjects as well as creative learning.”

And the first pupils to try the new task really enjoyed it.

Jannath Rohim, of Year 7, commented: “My first impression of electronics was only tests and circuits but as we went through the lessons, I have grown to love it.”

Sameera Kanamia said: “At first you may think electronics is bare or boring but as you get into it you find that it is actually really fun. I looked forward to it every week.”

Mariam Chabbi added: “Electronics has shown us that girls can do anything, even if people think that girls can’t.”