SACP Opens New Roadshow Year 26/27 at Farnborough Hill

The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme began its 2026/27 Roadshow with a first visit to Farnborough Hill School on 15 September. Around 100 Year 10 girls took part in a day of careers presentations and practical activities, with Spot proving a particular favourite.

Chris Marshall opened the morning with the main SACP presentation, introducing the technologies shaping aerospace, space and aviation and the opportunities they offer young people. Mike Stokes followed with a look at pathways to becoming a pilot, explaining the training routes available to those considering a flying career.

After a short break, Chris shared his experience of working as a drone pilot, before Ogi Damjanovic demonstrated his work in virtual reality design. Together, the talks introduced students to three different careers and the skills involved in each.

The morning finished with Spot, the Boston Dynamics quadruped robot. Students had the opportunity to ask him questions directly, making their interaction with the robot one of the most memorable parts of the visit. It also gave them a chance to see robotics and conversational AI working together, following the morning’s introduction to emerging technologies.

After lunch, the students moved from watching demonstrations to trying the technology themselves. Chris ran the XR drone simulators, while Mike’s ten VR headsets gave groups a pilot’s-eye view through the VR Flight Experience. Ogi’s five-headset VR design session introduced students to creating in three dimensions.

One student summed up the day simply:

“It was a really fun experience and I learned a lot.”

The SACP thanks Ailsa West for organising the visit and Sarah Oscroft for her support on the day. Farnborough Hill provided a welcoming start to the new school year, and we were pleased to introduce the programme to its Year 10 students.