Radio on the menu at Melton Mowbray school

King Edward VII Secondary School and Technology College in Melton Mowbray is running regular lessons on amateur radio, thanks to the quick thinking of classroom assistant Peter Treadwell, G7PCT.

Late in the summer term, Peter heard that the school would be teaching so-called “enrichment” lessons for new Year 10 pupils in addition to the normal curriculum.

“I made the suggestion that radio would be a good subject to follow, stressing its curriculum links to physics, maths, humanities and modern foreign languages and electronics,” explains Peter. “This was agreed and I found I had two classes twice a week each for the entire academic year!”

During the first term, Peter plans to teach the classes – of 22 and 23 pupils respectively - the Foundation License syllabus, and has registered with the RSGB as a Foundation Licence instructor. “In the second term, we will look at broadcast radio and intend to produce a podcast programme for the school. During the third term I will re-visit the Foundation work in preparation for the exam,” said Peter.

He also intends to use material from the Intermediate syllabus and explore model engineering in the lessons. “The object of these lessons is to give the pupils additional skills and interests that will help them when choosing a career and, of course, from the radio amateur point of view, to make it fun and hopefully give them a hobby that they will take up,” he said.

Peter has also set up an amateur radio club at the school – callsign M0MKE – with the aim of encouraging pupils to develop their interest in radio even further. He said: “The head, deputy head and the assistant head who set up the enrichment programme are very supportive of me, as is my own local club Melton Mowbray Amateur Radio Society, who have supplied me with some equipment as well as advice.”

Congratulations to Peter. It is work such as this that ensures that a new generation is introduced to the fun and excitement of amateur radio.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB

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