The Recycling Lab
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The Recycling Lab

Creative STEM Schools Programme with UCL and Microsoft for 3 secondary schools and 6 primary schools to be part of creating climate solutions for our area, Tower Hamlets.

For secondary schools:

This programme is aimed at providing year 10 and year 12 students with an opportunity to work on a creative STEM programme with Global Learning London, UCL and Microsoft to create an innovative solution to local recycling and waste management. Students will:

  1. Take part in creative workshops at school to learn about and design solutions to encourage recycling in their locality, and create a social media campaign,
  2. Spend half a day at UCL with their Computer Science and Microsoft team to bring their ideas together,
  3. Be part of a design competition where the winning design will be brought to life for Tower Hamlets residents.
KEY LEARNING SKILLS
  • Communication – developing tools to comfortably share your ideas with others.
  • Systems thinking skills – the ability to recognise the complex structures in place and understand how to make an impact to influence and change them.
  • Collaboration and cooperation – developing teamwork and approaching obstacles with others.
  • Creative response – developing initiative on a creative project of their own design to make impact for the needs of their local community as they experience it.
  • Computer science career insight – students will meet students and professionals at UCL and gain insight into their career progression.

For primary schools:

This programme will connect the primary and secondary schools to share learning through a creative workshop which will allow Year 5/6 students to learn and give their feedback to the designs that have been created.

This programme will also have CPD training for schools involved and work with schools to support their recycling and waste management systems through student-led input.

If your school is interested in being involved, please complete this form by 7th July 2025:  https://forms.gle/xRq11T5A2T2E9LVy9

Spaces are limited.
Timeline (subject to some change)
2025
  • October/November – secondary school: 4 in school creative sessions
  • November – visit to UCL for secondary schools
  • November – CPD with teachers

2026

  • Spring term – session with primary schools
  • Spring terms – CPD with teachers
  • Autumn term – dissemination campaign with secondary schools
  • Autumn term – the winning design will be created
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