PUPILS from across west Wiltshire had the chance to get hands on at a STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, Fair organised by Wiltshire Council for pupils, teachers and school leaders.

Youngsters from 19 schools, including St John’s Trowbridge, Walwayne Court, The Manor, Melksham and Westbury Juniors, as well as 12 home educators and their pupils attended the day.

They enjoyed activities on the stands that included a Learning Resources Hub offering coding with robots and programmable Star Wars droids; Westwood with Iford Primary had their school radio station operating and on show to other schools; FizzPop Science did sherbet making; the Arts Society gave pupils the chance to experiment with drawing in Leonardo DaVinci style and PodPad Studios showed pupils how decoding works with film props such as the STEAMPunk Dalek and K9.

The event, which was held in the Atrium at County Hall in Trowbridge on Tuesday, followed the first successful STEAM Fair in 2018.

Cllr Pauline Church, cabinet member for children, education and skills, who dropped in to meet youngsters on her lunchbreak from the day's full council meeting, said: “The 2018 fair was very successful so as a result of that triumph, Learning Resources Hub has held this second event. It will shine the light on the interesting and fun side of engineering and will encourage youth to participate and learn more about STEAM and what it involves.

"This event will enthuse teachers, school leaders and pupils to see STEAM as providing an exciting, rewarding and creative career to young children and enable pupils and educators to have the opportunity to explore curriculum-linked STEAM activities and exhibits.”