​Talbot Heath partners up with Volvo Cars Poole to transform STEAM education

Volvo Cars Poole has joined forces with Talbot Heath, a leading independent girls school in Bournemouth, as one of the founding partners to support its vision to transform education and transform STEAM skills development and education across Dorset.

Volvo Cars Poole has committed to support the vision of Talbot Heath School, to ‘recondition’ their curriculum that focuses on interdisciplinary learning with an emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) to better prepare young people for the changing world of work and the demands of future employers.

To achieve this the school is building a multi-million pound state-of-the-art STEAM Hub, which will allow holographic and virtual reality teaching, and support pupils to think across the disciplines. The Hub will incorporate a large auditorium, as well as gallery and exhibition space to support the local business community. It will also house a new covered pool facility for pupils and staff, and will also become the home to a local swimming club.

The Hub project has primarily been funded by the school themselves, but bringing on board forward thinking corporate and individual partners will enable the wider community to benefit from the project, providing access to the state-of-the-art facility to the local STEAM business community and schools.

As part of the partnership, Volvo Cars Poole has committed a generous sponsorship of the Hub capital campaign, and will support students with workshops in April, giving pupils the opportunity to get hands on with innovative automotive technologies. The sponsorship is part of Volvo Cars Poole’s ongoing commitment to the local community.

James Litton, General Manager - Director, Volvo Cars Poole said of the partnership:

”We are delighted to work with Talbot Heath school on this exciting and innovative project. It is important to us that we continue to encourage girls to explore STEAM careers and to be excited about technology, working with Talbot Heath on the Hub project will allow us to do this. The vision of the school will make a real impact on the future of education.”

Angharad Holloway, Headteacher, added:

“We are thrilled to have Volvo Cars Poole come on board as one of our Founding Partners, making such an important contribution to our vision. This partnership represents a really important first step towards realising our vision for the future education of our students, and is greatly appreciated by the whole community, including pupils, staff and parents. We are determined to offer our pupils an education fit for the exciting future that awaits them.”

The Hub fundraising campaign continues, Talbot Heath is looking for more partner businesses to support this important project which will benefit the whole community, bringing their support and expertise as a Founding Partner. For more information on the project please visit http://www.talbotheath.org/school-life/our-vision or contact Lisa Northey-Dennis, Director of Development lnorthey-dennis@talbotheath.org

Photo: James Litton (centre) General Manager Volvo Cars Poole and Gerry Ives, Finance Director Talbot Heath School at the THINK BIG business breakfast.