Harris Academy Wimbledon Students Discover New Career Possibilities with SACP
The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme made its first visit to Harris Academy Wimbledon on Friday 2 October 2026, bringing together more than 120 students from Years 10 to 13. The day combined careers presentations with practical technology sessions, with feedback showing that some students left considering possibilities they had previously overlooked.
One teacher described the impact:
“The Aerospace Careers Programme workshop was a brilliant, hands-on experience that demystified STEM careers for our students and left them genuinely excited about their future options.”
Chris Marshall opened the morning with the main SACP presentation, exploring the technologies changing aerospace, space and aviation. Mike Stokes followed with an introduction to pathways into professional flying, explaining the training routes available to students considering a career as a pilot.
Following a short break, Chris returned to share his experience of working as a drone pilot, before Ogi Damjanovic demonstrated his career in VR design. These sessions gave students a view of three different working lives, alongside the wider opportunities introduced during the main presentation.
For one student, the day prompted a change of direction:
“I had so much fun today, honestly. As a person who wasn’t considering aerospace as a future, this has genuinely swayed me towards it!”
Another reflected on discovering the range of careers available:
“This is something I wouldn’t have even thought to research without today’s presentation.”
The morning concluded with questions to Spot, the Boston Dynamics quadruped robot. Students could speak directly to him through his conversational AI system, and their feedback left little doubt about his reception:
“I can’t stop smiling. Spot was incredible.”
After lunch, students tried the technology themselves. Chris led the XR drone simulator sessions, Mike ran the VR Flight Experience using ten headsets, and Ogi introduced groups to designing in a virtual environment with his five-headset setup.
The positive response extended across the presentations and practical activities. One teacher wrote:
“Thank you to the whole team for putting together a fantastic, inspiring event. Our students thoroughly enjoyed it and gained a lot from the experience!”
The SACP thanks Sadaf Tanveer for coordinating the visit and the staff at Harris Academy Wimbledon for their support throughout the day. Reflecting on the event, Sadaf commented, “Everything was meticulously executed,” adding, “We would love to host more events in the future.”
We also thank the students for taking part and sharing such thoughtful feedback on their first experience of the programme.
