Tours for Schools


MANTRA visit helps Parkside students make their career choice

A visit to AMRCs travelling engineering showcase – MANTRA (The Manufacturing Technology Transporter), has convinced three students from Parkside Community School in Chesterfield to follow a career in engineering.

Year 11 students Ashley Macefield (15), Daniel Nosrati (16) and Jake Phillips-Helmsley (15) were part of a group of 10 boys that visited MANTRA during the Made in Chesterfield festival organised by Destination Chesterfield.

Hosted and sponsored by Chesterfield Champion MSE Hiller, MANTRA a specially customised 14m HGV trailer, packed with the latest machinery and simulators, designed to give aspiring young engineers a hands-on experience with real cutting-edge technologies.

Designed to give students a taste of modern manufacturing, advanced modelling and assembly line technology to help inspire young people to take up careers in engineering, MANTRA worked its magic on students from Parkside Community School.

Year 11 student Ashley Macefield (15) said: “I want to do engineering when I leave school and going to MANTRA helped me see all the different kinds of jobs and roles there are. It showed me that we can build anything if we put our mind to it.”

During the visit the boys were introduced to technology currently in use and that which is being developed, including 3D glasses similar to state-of-the-art ‘Occulus Rift’ equipment which is worn by gamers playing virtual reality games, which they are all fans of.

Deputy Headteacher Rachel Hammond who accompanied the students on their visit said: “It was a very successful visit. I could see that the youngsters really enjoyed it. In fact they were blown away by it. What was made evident is that these are very people the industry needs to employ because they are already familiar with and using modern technologies in video gaming.”

Parkside Community School recently achieved its best GCSE results ever with 60% of students gaining 5 A*- C including English and Mathematics – an incredible 25% rise when compared to last year’s results. Students’ progress levels exceeded national averages and performance in Science, English Language, Geography, French, BTEC Sport, ICT, Maths and Art were all above national expectations.

Mrs Hammond added: “What was amazing to learn during the visit was how much of a major player Chesterfield is in engineering and manufacturing and it showed the boys the job and career opportunities that exist locally, which is hugely important to young people who do not want to move away from home.”

The engineering showcase was sponsored by MSE Hiller and was based at the company’s headquarters at Markham Vale where it was visited by more than 100 students from north east Derbyshire Schools during Made in Chesterfield.

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