Project Description

Industry: STEM / Engineering

Activity Type: Work Inspiration and Preparation / Sector Awareness

Businesses involved: BEAR Scotland

Name of School: Beath High School

 

Pupils from Beath High School were selected to attend a visit to the Forth Bridges Education Centre in South Queensferry on 19 January 2026. The opportunity was aimed at young people studying S4 Engineering Science or those with a wider interest in engineering careers.

The trip was designed to bring engineering learning to life by combining industry input, practical STEM activity and first-hand experience of the iconic Forth Bridges. It gave pupils a clearer understanding of engineering in the real world and helped connect classroom learning to future career pathways.

Collaborative Partners

The visit was supported by Elaine Barrie, Consultant and Education Programme Manager at BEAR Scotland. BEAR Scotland manages and maintains parts of Scotland’s trunk road network and has a strong interest in promoting engineering, infrastructure and sustainability careers to young people.

Programme Aims

The visit aimed to:

• Increase pupils’ understanding of engineering and infrastructure
• Enhance learning in S4 Engineering Science
• Provide insight into STEM and engineering career pathways
• Build awareness of climate change and net zero in relation to engineering
• Give pupils a memorable, hands-on learning experience

 

Activity Overview

During the visit, pupils took part in:

• An engineer-led interactive presentation
• A hands-on STEM engineering challenge
• A walk across the Forth Road Bridge to experience the scale and structure of the bridges first hand
• The combination of presentation, practical activity and site experience helped pupils better understand how engineering applies in the real world and how major infrastructure projects are designed, maintained and managed.

 

Impact and Outcomes

The trip gave pupils a valuable opportunity to see engineering beyond the classroom and helped make their coursework more real and relevant. It also increased awareness of how engineering connects to wider issues such as sustainability, transport and net zero.

Staff feedback showed that pupils found the experience enjoyable and useful in helping to bring their Engineering Science learning to life.

An added bonus was the clear weather on the day, which made the bridge walk even more memorable—although a few pupils also discovered they were less keen on heights than expected.