SCIENCE students enjoyed a low carbon residential trip at EDF Energy’s Cannington Court training centre during the Easter holidays.

Around 50 year nine pupils from schools across Somerset spent four days tackling a range of scientific and construction challenges through the Hinkley Point C Inspire education programme.

Activities ranged from designing a water-powered turbine to generate electricity to working together to try and fix a leaking pipe hidden under a sealed box using a torch, a spanner and an endoscope.

They were also given an insight into how EDF Energy uses social media.

The pupils came from Chilton Trinity School, Haygrove School, Robert Blake Science College in Bridgwater, Bishop Fox’s School in Taunton, Wellington School, Huish Episcopi Academy, Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe plus others.

The pupils were split into eight groups for the trip, each mentored by EDF Energy graduates.

Darren Towers, EDF Energy’s head of education and skills, said: "All the young people who took part had volunteered to be there during their school holidays which showed real commitment on their behalf.

"The UK faces a major skills gap so it’s vital for our business and the country that we encourage this kind of interest and enable even more young people to gain hands-on experience of STEM through programmes like Inspire.

"The low carbon residential is particularly effective as our graduates help run the workshops and mentor the students taking part.

"That means the pupils can meet young people who are already in our company and get some real-life guidance about what we do and the opportunities available to them."

The students enjoyed a games evening, sports, a low ropes challenge and a visit to Hinkley Point B power station.

There was also an exhibition of work for parents, guardians and teachers.

Simon Kettle of STEMworks, which helped deliver the residential, said: “By the end of the residential we want each student to realise that not all jobs with EDF Energy are for engineers – there is a huge breadth of skills needed, including physicists, supply chain, project planners and environmental scientists.

"We make sure they have fun as well as finding their stay educational and it’s a great opportunity for young people to come and meet EDF Energy and see what the company and the world of STEM is all about."