School News

Morrison’s Academy, Perthshire’s leading independent day school is hosting its third interactive STEM day for young people from across Perthshire on Saturday, 10 May 2025 at its Crieff campus.

Run in partnership with the Glasgow-based charity SmartSTEMs, this free event invites young minds aged 10-14, and their families, to dive into a hands-on experience of all things STEM. Packed with interactive workshops, inspiring speakers, a STEM careers showcase and a pot of prizes, SmartSTEMS at Morrison’s Academy is the perfect opportunity to spark a lifelong passion for STEM. This year we’re excited to introduce STEMSpark, a new networking arena guaranteed to ignite creativity and connection among visitors.

Founded with the mission of making STEM education accessible and engaging, SmartSTEMs brings together industry leaders and educators to inspire the next generation. By collaborating with schools across the country, they ensure every child has the chance to explore the incredible opportunities STEM careers have to offer.

Experts from the STEM sector will join specialist teachers from Morrison’s Academy to deliver action-packed workshops, including Tayside Planetarium, The Army, Leonardo, The CODE Show, The University of Glasgow, , Curious Chip, Strathclyde University and GirlGuiding Tay and Ochils. A diverse range of employers from local businesses and national organisations will come together at the 2025 event to help showcase opportunities in STEM including SalamanderSoft, SSEN Distribution, University of St Andrews, Seric Systems, University of Dundee, GSK plc, and the Department of Agriculture.

Inspiring speakers will set the tone and bring the event to life. Kicking off the day is former Morrison’s Academy pupil, Caitlin Edgar, who’ll share her journey into paediatric prosthetics at Imperial College London and wrapping up will be Youtube sensation ‘STEM with Mr N’ Stuart Naismith, who’ll inspire with his unusual path into the sector.

Families can also visit STEMSpark, a new networking arena with STEM experts on hand to talk about their own paths into the sector. The line up includes representatives from the University of Glasgow, Recursion, The Army, Dresscode and NHS Scotland. Throughout the event, attendees will have the chance to gather entries for a prize draw, with a variety of exciting STEM prizes awarded during the closing ceremony.

Sponsors of this year’s event are Drysdale Brothers (Larbert) Ltd for prizes, SalamanderSoft Ltd for catering support for exhibitors and Consilio Events for Explorer goodie bags.

Pamela Boal, Digital Director at Morrison’s Academy, said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting our third SmartSTEMs day at Morrison’s Academy. With a diverse range of interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and exhibitors, and our new STEMSpark networking arena, we’re ready to provide an engaging and inspiring experience for everyone. In partnership with SmartSTEMs, we’re proud to offer a platform where pupils can interact with industry professionals, ask questions, and gain insights into STEM careers. Our goal is to ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and empower the next generation of innovators.”

Thanks to the drop-in style of the event, visitors can stay for an hour or spend the whole day immersed in STEM activities. The school’s onsite cafe, The Coffee Lab will be open throughout the event and indoor areas will be provided to those with a packed lunch.

Karen Adams, Head of Operations, SmartSTEMs, said: “We’re proud to return to Morrison’s Academy for a third year, continuing our mission to make STEM education accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for every young person. Events like this are where curiosity begins and ambition takes root. By connecting pupils with role models and real-world STEM experiences, we’re not just opening doors, we’re helping young people walk through them with confidence. Our thanks go to Morrison’s Academy, our brilliant delivery partners, and every business who makes this possible by coming along, sharing their stories, and shaping a brighter future for all our young people.”

Andrew McGarva, Rector of Morrison’s Academy, shared, “This year’s programme presents an exciting and diverse range of STEM sector businesses, providing young people from across the region with the chance to learn from industry leaders. We hope that they will leave the event feeling inspired and energised by the endless career possibilities in this dynamic field.”

The STEM day takes place from 10am until 2.30pm at the Morrison’s Academy campus on Ferntower Road in Crieff on Saturday 10 May. For more information and to book tickets please visit our Events page.