School News

Morrison’s Academy, Perthshire’s leading independent day school, was buzzing with energy on Saturday 10 May as more than 200 young people and their families visited its Crieff campus for an inspiring day of hands-on science and discovery.

Now in its third year, the interactive STEM event run in partnership with the Glasgow-based charity SmartSTEMs, offered 10-14 year olds a jam-packed schedule of workshops, careers showcase, a new networking arena and the chance to win fantastic STEM themed prizes. 

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. 

During the event experts from the STEM sector joined specialist teachers from Morrison’s Academy to deliver a series of action-packed workshops, including Tayside Planetarium, The Army, The CODE Show, The University of Glasgow, Curious Chip, Commsworld and GirlGuiding Tay and Ochils. 

A wide variety of employers from local businesses and national organisations gathered to highlight the  employment opportunities STEM offers. The participants were SalamanderSoft, Count Accountants, University of St Andrews, Seric Systems, All Risk Management, University of Dundee, GSK plc, and the Department of Agriculture. 

Former Morrison’s Academy pupil, Caitlin Edgar, brought the event to life by sharing her journey into paediatric prosthetics at Imperial College London and Youtube sensation ‘STEM with Mr N’ Stuart Naismith, inspired the audience at the end of the day with his unusual path into the sector. 

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

Sponsors of this year’s event were 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 were proud to host our third SmartSTEMs day at Morrison’s Academy – an unforgettable event that brought STEM to life in new and exciting ways. The day was packed with energy as pupils explored a vibrant mix of hands-on challenges and engaging conversations with professionals from across the STEM spectrum. A standout feature this year was our newly introduced STEMSpark networking arena, which gave pupils the unique chance to build connections, gain career insights, and discover the real-world impact of STEM fields. In collaboration with SmartSTEMs, the event succeeded in sparking curiosity, building confidence, and inspiring the next wave of problem-solvers and creators.”

Karen Adams, Head of Operations, SmartSTEMs, said: “At SmartSTEMs, we believe that every young person should have the opportunity to see themselves in a STEM future. Events like this are not just about sparking interest, they’re about building confidence, opening doors, and showing that exciting careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths are within reach. It’s been a privilege to partner with Morrison’s Academy once again and witness the enthusiasm, curiosity, and potential of the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”

Andrew McGarva, Rector of Morrison’s Academy, added, “This year’s programme brought together a dynamic mix of STEM sector organisations, offering young people from across the region an exciting opportunity to explore the breadth of careers available in science, technology, engineering, and maths. From innovative tech companies to cutting-edge research institutions, the event gave pupils direct access to industry leaders who shared their knowledge, experiences, and passion for what they do. The atmosphere was buzzing with curiosity and ambition, and we hope every young person left feeling motivated, empowered, and full of ideas about their future in this ever-evolving and opportunity-rich field.”