AROUND 100 youngsters joined forces to learn more about the range of career opportunities in the energy sector.

The project, which launched recently at the OrbisEnergy Centre in Lowestoft, is being led by Alde Valley School – previously Leiston High School.

Students were joined by the counterparts from Benjamin Britten High School, Bungay High School, East Point Academy, Pakefield High School, Sir John Leman High School and The Denes High School.

The launch of the Schools Energy Network saw students design their own logos and they also watched shows from members of the London Science Museum.

There was also a keynote speech by Tim Watkins, station director at Sizewell A nuclear power station, which is in the process of being decommissioned.

The aim of the project is to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and encourage youngsters to discover more about jobs in the energy sector.

Jill Douglas, employment engagement co-ordinator at Alde Valley School, said: “The network is there to raise aspirations, increase interest in STEM subjects and to inform students about jobs in the energy sector that are out there for them.”

The �35,000 project will see the schools given money to support STEM activities, which could be invested in iPads and wind turbine kits.

Fifteen year nine students from each school will also become energy ambassadors and throughout the next year they will visit businesses, colleges and universities to see engineering and science and energy courses and facilities.

The youngsters will then report back to their fellow students and explain how to pursue a career in the energy sector by producing newsletters or speaking at assemblies or in classrooms.

The project is being supported by Magnox, which is involved with the Sizewell A nuclear power plant, and Suffolk County Council.

A spokesman for the council said: “They will no longer be students of individual schools, they will be energy ambassadors who will be expected to feed back to their peers the varied and extensive information they will be experiencing throughout the project.”

Last week’s launch marked the start of a number of activities.