Bradford College

TV Legend at WOW Academy Awards

British television legend, Johnny Ball has joined forces with the WOW Academy to celebrate the ongoing success of the ‘World of Wonder.’ The well loved childrens TV presenter was a regular fixture on television in the 1970s and 1980s, presenting programmes such as: Think of a Number; Think Again and Johnny Ball Reveals All. 

Johnny brought joy to millions of children with his unique style of presenting scientific and technological principles, in an entertaining and accessible way. In a bid to promote STEM subjects further, Johnny was delighted to accept the invitation to speak at the prestigious event. 

Speaking to the award winners at the presentation ceremony, Johnny Ball said:  “In every section of life, technology is improving so much – and that’s where the jobs are. If you like science and you like technology, because you enjoy working with technology, then there are careers in this for you… all of you, because technology is the future!”

Johnny joined special guest and key speakers, including Ministers of State to present awards to schools that had visited the Wow Academy and used the new technologies available within the centre.

The celebration event - hosted by Bradford College Principal Michele Sutton, OBE, and Hashim Hashim, Head of Innovation at the WOW Academy, was also attended by guests from participating schools, along with representatives from Yorkshire Forward, Learning Skills Council (LSC), Bradford Council and local businesses.

Launched in January 2008, the project aims to improve and increase the number of learners participating, achieving and progressing in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) through new technologies available at the centre.

During the evening’s celebrations, guests were treated to all star performances from Urban Circus, rappers, singers, break dancers, Bollywood dancers and Dhol players (drummers).

Addressing award winners and guests during the presentation ceremony, Michele Sutton, OBE, said: “Hashim and I came up with the concept for the WOW Academy with colleagues from Yorkshire Forward about three years ago.  We wanted to find a way to make STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) interesting, vibrant and exciting for young people. From there its gone from strength to strength.” 

Michele continued:  “We’re here this evening with a number of schools and school children who have benefited from the fantastic facilities available within the Academy.  We have raised knowledge and awareness of STEM subjects and enthused a lot of people.  We’re delighted about that!  We had a two year project where we had to deliver this exciting curriculum to 500 young people.  We achieved that at the end of the first year. We’re now on our way to having welcomed over 1000 young people through the doors of the WOW Academy.”

Michele added: “STEM subjects are a high priority on the Government’s agenda.  They know that young people with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths qualifications are going to be the employees of the future!”

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Hashim Hashim, Head of Innovation said:  “We’re really pleased we’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference to young people’s lives.  By introducing them to such technologies we’ve been able to motivate and inspire. We believe that education should be fun, exciting and interesting and the feedback we’ve received from all our visitors confirms this to be the case. We would like to see more schools visiting from further afield and also welcome international visitors!”