Specialist sixth form academy to host Open Day at Google

John O'Shea. Pic: STEM6

John O’Shea. Pic: STEM6

STEM Academy, the specialist sixth form college, will open on a site just off  Tech City’s Silicon Roundabout, in September and prospective students are being invited to an open day at Google headquarters on Friday February 22nd.

In the first year of opening, the school will take on 216 students and STEM hopes to increase to 432 students by 2014.

The state-funded Free School for 16 to 19-year-olds, offers a vocational academic experience in science, technology, maths and engineering. It intends to help students progress to top universities, entrepreneurial programmes or directly to the work place.

John O’Shea, currently head of the Islington Sixth Form Consortium, will take over as principle in April. He said that securing this prime location was key to the up-and-coming success of the college: “The STEM6 vision has always involved being located in East London’s Tech City, creating a direct link with STEM industries and helping to inspire the next generation of STEM graduates.

“Tech City already represents one of the fastest growing and burgeoning areas of London and I’m confident that our students will thrive from being at the heart of it.”

O’Shea is well-practiced at teaching the STEM subjects after spending over a decade teaching A-level biology.

Dennis Quilter, Chair of Governors, at STEM said: “John’s combination of experience in education, particularly among sixth forms in London, coupled with his own science background, makes him the perfect choice to take STEM Academy forward.”

Despite the main emphasis on science-related subjects, the Academy will also offer a broader curriculum, including English and modern languages at A-level as well as extracurricular courses including the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

STEM is hosting an open day on Friday, February 22, at the Google headquarters in Soho. Joining O’Shea will be guest speakers Shuvo Saha, industry director of Google UK, and Dr Tony Sewell, founder and director of Generating Genius – one of STEM6’s partners.

Those interested in attending the STEM6 Open Day in Soho can register via the website or call 0208 603 7221.

For previous articles on the STEM academy, click here.

 

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