A KENT Grammar School is helping to pioneer a government initiative to encourage the development of more scientists, engineers, and technologists.

Chatham House at Ramsgate is one of 250 schools nationwide to benefit from the £5million project funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to develop after schools science and engineering clubs.

Each school will receive £17,000 over two years for the scheme that aims to inspire pupils aged between 11 and 14 years old to expand their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and maths outside the classroom.

The club, which will also include students from Clarendon House Grammar, will explore a range of hands-on activities, including the Maths in Motion computerised programme to design and run a racing car, forensic science, radio and electronics.

Head teacher John Mathews said: "Our aim for the club is to develop these important subjects in a fun, interesting, informative and challenging way.

"It is great for the school – which has specialist maths, computing and science status – to be chosen to help the Government drive through this critical initiative to address the worrying decline in young people with science and engineering skills."

Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "After school science clubs like this will play an important role in helping to inspire our young people to be the scientists of tomorrow.

"We face important challenges today such as climate change and competing in the global environment. The importance of science and innovation to our economy and the wider world cannot be over-estimated.

"The UK needs a strong supply of scientists to tackle these challenges and secure our future prosperity."

The project is being delivered and managed through a consortium of partners, led by SETNET (the Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics Network) and including: The British Association for the Advancement of Science, The network of Science Learning Centres, Ecsite-uk (the national network of science centres and museums), The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, and The Association for Science Education.