The new Mendip Studio School was officially opened this week by world-famous explorer, Sir David Hempleman-Adams, who returned back to his old campus of Writhlington, where he himself was once schooled, to inspire the pupils who will be taking advantage of the facility dedicated to Electronic Engineering and Biosciences.

Bruce Hain, Headteacher of the Mendip Studio School, was delighted to welcome the record-breaking adventurer back to Writhlington on Tuesday, 23rd May.

In 1984, Sir David successfully completed a solo expedition to the Magnetic North Pole without dogs, snow mobiles or air supplies. He also led the first team to walk unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole in 1992, and in 1996, he completed a solo unsupported expedition to the South Pole.

To celebrate the official opening, forty-four Year 10 students, along with one of the school’s Industry Supporters, The James Dyson Foundation, took part in a twelve-hour ‘Makeathon’ in collaboration with schools in Chicago. Employers, students and teachers were all engaged in problem-solving and how the students chose to tackle the problem and found the solution was up to them. The emphasis on the task was about the process, and skills pupils developed along the way, the very essence of the Studio School, which works alongside industry supporters, such as Kew Gardens and the Dyson Foundation, to learn through project-based activities and work experience.

The school’s distinguished guests were shown around the £4.5 million state-of-the-art building with bespoke, industry specification labs where students showcased the Genetics and Orchid clubs’ activities. The Makeathon students then took part in a live presentation of their project to a Chicago school.

Speaking at the official opening, Sir David Hempleman-Adams said: “I feel very humbled and honoured to be invited back to Writhlington. What a spectacular change there has been over the years.

“During the tour with students from the Mendip Studio School, it was clear the school has fostered an environment where students can flourish and become passionate about their learning.

“I think they have a few budding Nobel Prize winners in their midst, and I look forward to following their progress over years to come.”

Mendip Studio School is a small school specialising in Bioscience, Electronic Engineering, Computing and Maths. The school has vertical tutoring, an extended Work Experience programme with Industry Supporters, and students participate in a comprehensive and vibrant programme of sporting, artistic and extra-curricular activities provided through the partnership with Writhlington School. Mendip Studio School accepts students into Years 10–13 and applications are open for entry into the school from September 2017.

The school takes 300 students, the first of which started under the Mendip Studio School banner in September 2015, with construction of the new building beginning in March 2016. Schools such as this have been introduced to try to combat the shortfall of what is thought to be 20,000 engineers in the UK and to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical skills.