Stannah partnership brings hands-on STEM learning to schools across the UK
Stairlift manufacturer Stannah is helping hundreds of young people develop practical engineering, problem-solving and teamwork skills through its continued partnership with education charity The Learning Partnership.
Funded by the Joseph Stannah Foundation, the stairlift and homelift manufacturer’s charitable fund, Stannah is sponsoring 15 secondary schools across the UK to participate in The Learning Partnership’s STEM challenge programme.
The initiative enables students to apply classroom learning to practical engineering projects, helping them develop creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
The Learning Partnership delivers a structured programme that supports students throughout secondary school. Challenges cover subjects including model rocket cars, autonomous vehicles, robotics and drones, demonstrating how science, technology, engineering and mathematics can be applied to real-world situations.
The 15 participating schools are located in communities served by Stannah’s network of branches and installation depots. They are Kepier Academy in Sunderland, Leigh Academy Halley School in Greenwich, Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School in Lincoln, Oasis Academy Southampton, Regent’s Park Community College in Southampton, Smithdon High School in Hunstanton, St Paul’s High School, St Katherine’s School in Bristol, Stonehenge School in Amesbury, Strood Academy in Strood, Telford Langley School in Telford, The Heath High School in Runcorn, Moulton School & Science College in Moulton, Our Lady & St Chad Catholic School in Wolverhampton, and Royal Greenwich Trust School in Greenwich.
The partnership forms part of the Joseph Stannah Foundation’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people and inspiring future generations to explore STEM subjects and careers.
Catarina Neves, Partnership Development Manager at The Learning Partnership, said: “Stannah’s support demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when education and industry come together. We believe every young person can succeed in STEM when learning is connected to real-world challenges.
“Through these programmes, students tackle practical engineering scenarios, build confidence and, because the focus is on bringing ideas to life, they discover skills they didn’t know they had. Addressing the industry’s skills gap starts by making STEM inspiring, relevant and accessible to all young people, regardless of their background or perceived ability.”
Fiona Neil, Head of Group Communications at Stannah, added: “At Stannah, we believe every young person should have the opportunity to discover what STEM can offer. Engineering is all about curiosity, creativity and finding solutions to problems, and those are skills that can be developed from an early age.
“Through the Joseph Stannah Foundation, we’re proud to support programmes that give young people the opportunity to experiment, collaborate and discover what they can achieve. It’s particularly rewarding to support schools in the communities where our colleagues live and work, helping inspire the next generation while strengthening our local connections.”
One of the schools benefiting from the partnership is St Katherine’s School in Bristol, which wanted to find new ways to engage Year 7 students with STEM subjects and demonstrate how classroom learning can be applied in practice.
Funding from the Joseph Stannah Foundation enabled the school to participate in The Learning Partnership’s Race to the Line programme for the first time.
Around 150 Year 7 students worked in teams to design and build their own CO₂-powered racing cars. The challenge introduced students to the engineering design process and encouraged them to think creatively, manage their time and work collaboratively to produce the most aerodynamic vehicle possible.
Teachers received ready-made resources and materials to support the project, which culminated in a race day featuring 32 student-designed cars. School staff reported that the programme helped students develop teamwork, design and time-management skills while gaining a practical understanding of aerodynamics and engineering principles.
Teachers also saw students successfully collaborate with classmates outside their usual friendship groups. Teams shared ideas, divided responsibilities and worked towards a common goal, with some new friendships developing during the project.
Students demonstrated creativity and adaptability throughout the challenge, including finding innovative ways to use leftover materials to improve their designs. Following the success of the programme, the school said it plans to participate again in the future.
George Martin Fey, Second in Design, Art and Technology at St Katherine’s School, commented: “Many thanks to Stannah for sponsoring our first Race to the Line event. Our Year 7 students worked in teams to design and build their own CO₂-powered cars before putting them to the test on race day.
“We had a great time and learned a lot about aerodynamics, teamwork and the design process. The students worked incredibly hard to create the fastest and most aerodynamic cars, and we all took a great deal from the experience.”
The programme also supports Stannah’s wider ambition to strengthen links between schools and local employers, helping young people understand how the skills developed in the classroom can be applied to future careers.
In recent news, Stannah was named a Which? Recommended Provider for stairlifts for the fourth consecutive year, which the firm states reinforces its commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences and supporting people to maintain their independence at home.
