Woodham Academy students visited car-maker Nissan as part of an engineering day to inspire youngsters to get in to manufacturing. The group of Year 8 students from the school’s More Able Academy spent a day at the Sunderland plant to discover the world of industry, as part of the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing (SIM) Programme. SIM is a partnership between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and industry leaders such as Nissan and Vauxhall. Students heard how engineers are adapting to an ever changing world; how engineers who once studied traditional technologies such as petrolpowered vehicles are now learning about electric vehicle technology. The 14 students also learnt about the 100% electric Nissan LEAF – and took part in a tour of the production line to see the Qashqai and the Leaf being built. As well as inspiring the next generation, the national programme aims to open young eyes to the variety of careers available and raise aspirations within an integral industry. Headteacher, Christine Forsyth, said: “This is just another example of how we’re gearing up our students for the world of work. The UK car manufacturing industry is going from strength-to-strength, so clearly educating our young people about the sector is important. Of course, it’s hoped that some of the Woodham Academy students will go on to have careers within engineering and manufacturing locally. As well as other initiatives we run, such as the Apprenticeship Awareness Programme, this is helping to give our students real-life insights into industry.”