A dynamic educational partnership between the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTTS) and The Work-wise Foundation is inspiring students across Yorkshire with hands-on STEM learning, themed around aviation and aerospace. The joint initiative launched 2025 with momentum, delivering three “Flying Roadshows” at primary schools across South Yorkshire in the first quarter of the year. Seven more events are already scheduled to take place in South and West Yorkshire over the coming months. Each Flying Roadshow brings together volunteers from VTTS and staff from The Work-wise Foundation to deliver interactive activities designed to engage Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. The sessions use the iconic Cold War-era Vulcan bomber XH558 as a central theme, helping students explore principles of science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths (STEAM) through the lens of flight and aerospace.
Secondary and university students are also getting involved through more advanced challenges. One highlight from this year’s programming was the Dr Pleming’s Operation Vulcan design competition, held during The Work-wise Foundation’s annual “Get up to Speed with STEM” event in March. Named after the late Dr Robert Pleming, founding chief executive of VTTS, the competition tasked secondary school teams with designing a safe, sustainable, and functional scale model of an ejector seat.
Doncaster UTC claimed the top prize with their design, impressing a panel of industry experts. Their winning team will now work with professional engineers from CBE+, DN4 Innovation, and P1 Technology to build a working prototype. Lisa Wild, an engineering teacher at Doncaster UTC, praised the competition’s impact on her students. “This project gave our students the opportunity to apply STEM theory in a practical, exciting context,” she said. “They developed teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills, and really appreciated the chance to collaborate with real engineers. Watching their concept evolve into a working model has been hugely rewarding.”
At the university level, students from the University of Sheffield’s Engineering Leadership and Services Award (SELSA) program also took part in the Vulcan initiative. Their challenge was to design an engaging exhibit for the 2025 “Get up to Speed” event. Using a large wingtip from a retired Vulcan aircraft, the team created an immersive display featuring videos, photographs, and interactive activities—including a paper airplane station that illustrated the physics of flight and control surfaces. Marc Walters, chief executive of Vulcan to the Sky Trust, emphasized the importance of STEM education in the charity’s mission. “Inspiring and educating the next generation is a core part of what we do,” said Walters. “We’re delighted to see such strong engagement across all age groups and proud to work alongside The Work-wise Foundation to make these programs a reality.” John Barber, chief executive of The Work-wise Foundation, echoed the sentiment. “Our collaboration with VTTS is helping to spark curiosity and interest in STEM from primary school to university,” he said. “We hope these experiences will open young minds to the many career pathways available in science and engineering.” For more information or to get involved in the Vulcan education projects, visit https://work-wise.co.uk/events-and-programmes/vulcan.html.
