Thames Water Community Speaker Programme

Students can find out more about where your water comes from and what happens to your poo when you flush the loo!

Secondary

Ages 11 to 18+
In-school
2 September 2020 to 1 September 2025
1 to 2 hours
Free

Run by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

Check availability

Our Thames Water speaker programme offers you the opportunity to book a school visit with a Thames Water speaker who can talk to your students about what Thames Water do, and how they do it.

The sessions involve a variety of hands-on and interactive resources to use as part of their presentation, and can take place both in assemblies and small classrooms. Students will learn about the essential services Thames Water provide, where your water comes from, and what happens to your poo when you flush the loo!

Sessions cover:

the water cycle
water and waste water treatment
saving water at home and at school
our campaign to end sewer abuse - 'Bin it, don't block it'
information on careers at Thames Water, including engineering

Capacity

Minimum of 10 participants, maximum of 250 participants.

Dates and Location

Speakers can visit schools across the Thames Water catchment area, from Gloucestershire in the West to Kent in the East.

Duration

Sessions can be half an hour whole school assemblies, or lesson long classroom-based sessions. Speakers can deliver more than one engagement if required to different year groups.

Learning outcomes

Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects
Learning what the engineering workplace is like
Develop engineering employability skills
Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering

Subjects and topics

- Biology
- Chemistry
- Design and Technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- Physics
- Energy and environment
- General engineering
- Mechanical engineering, systems and processes
- Structures, construction and civil engineering

Gatsby benchmarks

The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:

Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of workplaces
Personal guidance

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

Listening - the ability to listen and understand information.
Problem solving - the ability to find a solution to a complex situation or challenge.
Teamwork - working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.