BBC Bitesize Schools Tour 2021

Jack Lonsdale, a data analyst within our digital practice team, recently joined the BBC's Bitesize Schools Tour after answering a call out for young professionals in a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) role interested in speaking at their series of events. 

The Bitesize Schools Tour aims to open the world of STEAM and raise awareness of the various career paths and professional opportunities whilst giving students practical advice on how to pursue a career in these fields. 

The first visit was to the city of Hull, where Jack attended Malet Lambert School to present on a panel to their year 9 and 10 students. Jack joined Sam Wright from MOODBEAM, an employer happiness survey company and Bobbi Hadgraft, a freelance journalist with BBC Radio Humberside and Manchester. The host on the day was BBC’s Ross Fiddes, who covers their Rugby League programming.

Then on to Wolverhampton, where Jack visited St Edmund's Catholic Academy to speak with their students. The panel sessions were hosted by actor and BBC radio show host Mim Shaikh and Jack was joined by representatives from Aceleron and the BBC Sport and Radio Digital Team. 

Jack comments, “What was brilliant was the difference in the journeys that myself and my co-presenters had to get where we are today and that the students were able to relate to one of our paths. Their questions were so insightful to their thoughts on careers, and it was rewarding to see them so engaged. What resonated, especially with the younger students, was that enjoyment of maths didn’t mean you had to work as a maths teacher or a mathematician, but that there’s a whole world of different careers out there that can be accessed through core skills in these subjects.”

You can watch a snippet of the day caught on film on the school’s website here.