THE John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge has successfully bid for £17,000 to fund an after-school Science and Engineering Club for gifted and talented students over the next two years.

This selection has been based on a two stage process, with the aim of selecting those schools where the introduction of a Science and Engineering Club would have the most benefit, particularly in terms of progression to post-16 study of science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

The winning bid was a vision to excite and enthuse Key Stage 3 students and produce future scientists and engineers.

The club will enable students to discover and experience aspects of science, maths and technology beyond that offered by the curriculum.

Budding science and engineering students will take on a number of themed projects set in real-life contexts.

Projects will include work on genetic engineering, forensic science, renewable energy sources and an engineering project to design a CO2 powered car, build it and race it against other schools.

A number of the projects will involve visits to industry and institutions, video conferencing with other schools around the world, demonstrating work at school events and at Bath University, and using technology to produce multimedia records of their work.