Overview: A landmark STEAM event at Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park in Surrey is playing host to a major education initiative designed to boost young people’s prospects in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The STEAM 2025 event brings together thousands of students from across Surrey, Kent, London, Essex and Berkshire for a day of engaging hands-on activities, career insights, and a unique incentive: stamps earned through educational activities can be exchanged for access to rides throughout the park.
The scale of the event is notable. Organisers anticipate around 10,000 students from 87 schools will participate, turning the theme of STEAM into a dynamic, experiential learning experience. The combination of practical learning and immediate rewards aims to make STEM subjects feel accessible and relevant to future career choices.
What makes STEAM 2025 different?
STEAM 2025 goes beyond traditional classroom demonstrations. By integrating education with real-world opportunities at a popular leisure venue, the event demonstrates how the skills students are developing—problem-solving, collaboration, data interpretation and creative thinking—translate into tangible careers. The activities are designed to cover the breadth of the STEAM spectrum, from science and engineering challenges to creative design and digital arts projects.
Participants collect stamps from a series of educational activities, which they can exchange at designated points for access to rides. This playful incentive not only adds excitement to learning but also encourages students to complete a broad range of experiences, ensuring a well-rounded exposure to STEAM disciplines.
Partnerships shaping the event
The event is coordinated through a collaboration that includes schools and education partners. Jen Baker, ACS International Schools partnerships events manager, highlighted the value of translating classroom skills into real careers. “We’re showing students how to translate skills into real careers and opportunities,” Baker said, underlining the practical aim of STEAM 2025.
Teachers and mentors are integral to the day, guiding pupils through activities that promote critical thinking, teamwork and project-based learning. The partnership model helps align school curricula with industry expectations, giving students a clearer sense of the pathways that lead to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Why this matters for students and educators
For students, STEAM 2025 offers a rare chance to engage with professionals, observe real-world applications of theoretical knowledge, and experience the kind of problem-solving that drives innovation. The event also helps families understand the diverse routes available beyond traditional university degrees, including apprenticeships, vocational training and entry-level roles that leverage creative and technical skills.
For educators, the day provides fresh ways to present STEAM subjects. By tying activities to future career sectors, teachers can illustrate how classroom concepts relate to industry needs, increasing motivation and retention in STEM and arts-related study tracks.
What attendees can expect on the day
Attendees will rotate through a curated set of interactive activities designed to spark curiosity and confidence. These range from hands-on experiments and engineering challenges to digital design tasks and creative arts projects. The stamps earned along the way serve as a record of participation and achievement, reinforcing a sense of progression and accomplishment.
Direct exposure to potential employers and educators helps demystify the job market. Students will hear from mentors and role models who can describe daily work life, required skill sets and the education routes that lead to success in STEM and STEAM fields.
Looking ahead
Steered by enthusiastic partnerships and a strong focus on skills development, STEAM 2025 at Thorpe Park aims to become an annual milestone on the calendar for schools across the region. The event showcases how creative inquiry and technical expertise can combine to open doors to rewarding careers, and how experiential learning at a renowned venue can inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, designers and innovators.
Key takeaways
- Mass participation: around 10,000 students from 87 schools across multiple counties
- Hands-on STEAM activities that connect classroom learning with real-world applications
- Career insights from educators and industry partners
- Incentivized learning through a stamp-and-ride exchange system
