Alex Penrose, from Amble, Northumberland, has been celebrating after winning in the Special Recognition category at the North East STEM Awards. The award which recognises people who have made an outstanding contribution to STEM education in the North East was awarded to Alex after he successfully reinstated the Computer Science GCSE at his former high school, James Calvert Spence College (JCSC), in Amble.
The challenge started after Alex joined Alnwick-based manufacturing software company, MSP, as a Software Engineer in 2021. He wanted to give something back to his former school and recognised that reinstating the GCSE onto the curriculum would give students the opportunity to learn Computer Science skills from a vital age; an opportunity he unfortunately didn’t get himself.
Alex met with JCSC’s headteacher and IT teachers to discuss the importance of its place on the curriculum, explaining how it would have assisted his own career path. His commitment never wavered, and the subject was successfully reinstated to the JCSC curriculum. The first intake of approximately 25 students, commenced in September 2023 and the hope is to introduce Computer Science as an A Level in the future.
Alex says: “Studying GCSE Computer Science would have given me lots more confidence with programming tasks at the start of my degree and I’m delighted students now have this chance. Reinstating the subject back on the curriculum will also hopefully raise awareness and encourage more students into exploring Computer Science and realising the importance of it in the world we live in today”.
David Smith, Computer Science Teacher at JCSC, advocates: “This achievement speaks volumes about Alex's impact. Alex's enthusiasm for STEM is contagious. His vibrant energy and genuine excitement for the subject matter has captivated students' attention and ignited a renewed interest in learning.
He possesses a unique understanding of the doubts that some learners face, and, through empathetic guidance, helps students regain belief in their capabilities.Many students who had lost sight of their ambitions have found renewed motivation through Alex's encouragement/example and he has opened new avenues for students to explore technology and coding”.
Alex has also supported many other STEM-promotional activities whilst at MSP. He has been involved with supporting two Industrial Cadet programmes, organised by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT). During the first, a Gold Industrial Cadets programme, Alex supported students in a mentoring capacity over a 6-month period on a real-life STEM industry project, of which the work the students completed was successfully implemented into MSP’s processes and products.
Paul Batley, former Head of Sixth Form at Alnwick’s Duchess’ Community High School whose students took part in the Gold programme, says, “The students he worked with really enjoyed the experience and felt able to discuss any problems they had about the project with him. They all benefitted massively from the programme. It developed their confidence massively and they have now all secured engineering and maths places at top universities”.
Alex also supported a Bronze Industrial Cadets programme; a 6-week programme working on a Wellbeing app where the team won the regional teamwork award. The EDT’s Delivery Lead for the North, Alice Batts, said: “I have no doubts the team’s exceptional collaborative efforts and award win were helped by Alex’s hard work and dedication to guiding them through the project”.
Marianne Whitfield, MSP Director of Development, says: “At MSP, we are all extremely proud of Alex’s achievements and this special recognition is so well deserved. Alex’s efforts supporting students on the Industria Cadets Programmes and his success in getting the Computer Science GCSE reinstated at James Spence Calvert College is a testament to his enthusiastic and hardworking nature. If this is just the beginning of Alex’s impact on the North East’s STEM agenda, I am excited about what’s to come”.
Alex concludes: “It’s lovely to receive this recognition and hear so much positive feedback. To think I’ve been able to improve the education of many students is incredible and I’m so pleased they’ll have a chance I didn’t get. I hope this inspires more people to look at ways for improving their community or places that have helped them in the past”.
For more information about MSP, get in touch here.
For more information about the North East STEM Awards, visit the page here.