Pupils at Mosslands School in Wallasey test online science games

May 6 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

PUPILS at a Wirral school are having their science and engineering skills put to the test online.

Mosslands School in Wallasey is one of four schools across the UK to trial a new series of web-based games developed by independent education charity The Smallpiece Trust.

The games include colour-matching and bridge-building to demonstrate how engineering can be used to solve real life problems.

Glyn Jones, the school’s head of design and technology, said: “While we have a good reputation with science subjects, the general pattern is that subjects such as physics, chemistry and general science are on the decline, which will eventually have a major impact on our country’s ability to compete in key sectors such as engineering.

“By trialling the games, we are hoping to put the spark back into these subjects and demonstrate to pupils that they are fun.”

Gemma Murphy of The Smallpiece Trust said: “Vacancies in the engineering sector are costing the economy an estimated £76 million a year. We need to ensure that the skills and passion required for professions such as engineering are developed from a young age.

“If not we will face a major skills shortage crisis in the near future.”