Royal High School Bath (RHB) has taken STEM education to new heights with the launch of its first-ever Flying Club – an exciting initiative inspiring students to explore the world of aviation and aerospace engineering.
Open to students from Years 7 to 13 and run in partnership with British Young Pilots, the club offers a mix of theory and hands-on experience. Weekly sessions led by a qualified instructor cover topics such as physics, meteorology, navigation and engineering, alongside practical flight simulator training.
Earlier this month, members of the club took to the skies for their very first real aircraft flight, putting their learning into thrilling practice.
The Flying Club is one of several new STEM initiatives at Royal High Bath designed to encourage girls to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Students are also taking part in Choose Maths, a new Girls’ Day School Trust programme developed in partnership with Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. The initiative highlights the benefits of studying Maths and Maths-related degrees through virtual sessions with undergraduates and academics, plus an on-site immersion day at Cambridge.
STEM subjects are already thriving at Royal High, with more than 60% of leavers choosing to study STEM-related degrees. However, women remain underrepresented in these fields, with a 2024 whitepaper estimating that only 26% of the UK’s STEM workforce are women. In aerospace engineering, that figure drops to around 15%, and just 6.5% of licensed pilots in the UK are women.
Heidi-Jayne Boyes, Head of Royal High, said, “At Royal High Bath, we strive to support every single student to achieve her ambitions, and we’re always looking for new opportunities to inspire and challenge them. STEM is hugely popular here and it’s no surprise to see our students embrace these new initiatives with the trademark curiosity, determination and creativity of a Royal High girl.”
Craig Graham, Head of Maths, added, “These fantastic opportunities from Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, further support us as a school to break the stereotype regarding girls and STEM. At Royal High, not only are STEM subjects the most popular choices in the Sixth Form, but they also make up over 60% of all university course choices for our leavers.”
