Case Study: Cultivating growth mind set and confidence at Kinglassie Primary School with Primary Engineer 

Introduction 

Kinglassie Primary School in Fife has been a long-standing school involved with Primary Engineer, integrating our fully-funded programmes and competition for almost a decade. Stephen Noble, a dedicated primary teacher at the Scottish school, has been instrumental in championing this involvement, consistently witnessing the impact on his learners. 

Why are they involved 

Stephen Noble’s involvement with Primary Engineer began through a Continued Professional Development (CPD) approach as part of the Primary Engineer Vehicle Programme, after enjoying this he then enrolled for the Primary Engineer Rail Programme and then the annual Leaders Award competition. For ten years, Stephen and Kinglassie Primary have embraced these, recognizing them as “great activity” and a “really positive thing” which is run by Primary Engineer every year giving a reliable consistant form of STEM engagement. 

Stephen, who teaches all primary subjects, particularly enjoys mathematics and science. He is deeply passionate about engineering himself, with friends in the field, and uses this enthusiasm to engage his pupils. Primary Engineer’s incentives allow him to guide students in understanding diverse areas of engineering and encourage them to think like engineers. 

What has the experience been like?  

Typically, the school dedicates several sessions to brainstorming and mind-mapping local and global issues, aiming to “get the idea flowing.” While this approach has been successful in fostering “great ideas,” Stephen notes that the competition format helped pupils to “think about more specific, how does it solve the problem.” This structured process, coupled with feedback, helps to “get the best from pupils that aren’t all robots,” encouraging more focused and original solutions. 

A particularly rewarding aspect for Stephen is witnessing the “empathy from children” and the “surprising unique problems” they identify. A standout example from last year was Primary 7 pupil, Favour’s idea VisionME and application to help the hearing impaired. Favour was recognised as one of the winners for this year group in this region at the Scotland East Central award ceremony in 2024.  

A core part of Primary Engineer’s programmes and competitions is the celebration element where pupils are recognised for their involvement and achievement through external validation which in turns encourages them to keep going. Stephens believes these events give children “something to hang their hat on,” a tangible achievement they can “look to, recognise as something they did and achieve.” This recognition can be “really powerful,” and the school makes a “big deal of what they’ve done. He also thinks the events provide an “opportunity to go and succeed and be recognised” which is especially important for children who may not always achieve highly in traditional academic settings. 

The integration of Primary Engineer aligns seamlessly with Kinglassie Primary’s core values and culture. The school emphasizes nurture and holds a “big passion for growth mindset.” Engineering, with its inherent focus on problem-solving and perseverance, fits this ethos perfectly. Stephen highlights how the programmes encourage pupils to “make mistakes and learn from them,” fostering a resilient approach to learning and promotes creativity and essential meta-skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Primary Engineers’ programmes and competitions significantly enhance pupils’ communication and group work skills. Students learn to “share ideas, compromise,” and gain the confidence to “stand up in their class” and present their concepts. 

Another significant benefit is the cross-curricular nature. They seamlessly integrate with other areas of the curriculum, such as maths (speed x distance x time), literacy and creative arts. This holistic approach enriches the learning experience and demonstrates the practical application of various subjects. 

Conclusion 

Kinglassie Primary School’s long involvement with Primary Engineer has been a resounding success. The school has not only fostered an understanding of engineering but also cultivated a culture of innovation, problem-solving, and growth mindset. The programs provide invaluable opportunities for all pupils, particularly those who may struggle in other areas, to shine, develop crucial life skills, and gain confidence through the empowering experience of being recognized as young engineers. Stephen Noble’s passion and Kinglassie Primary’s commitment exemplify the transformative power of Primary Engineer in shaping the next generation of creative and confident problem-solvers. 

Huge thank you to Kinglassie Primary School for sharing these valuable insights. If you have worked with us and want to share your experiences, contact us on marketing@Primaryengineer.com

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