PUPILS at Mauchline Primary had a visit from the director of a project involving new road technology.

Sally Harkins, a P6 teacher at the school, arranged the visit as part of STEM week, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Caroline Jones Carrick from the TEV Project, which she co-founded with her dad, told a group of more than 200 pupils of how travel and car technology has evolved.

This includes driverless technology and electric vehicles, which will be more widespread when the children, who were between five and 11-years-old, are adults.

She said: “Meeting and speaking to the children at Mauchline Primary School was fantastic.

“I was lucky enough to grow up playing alongside my dad while he worked in his workshop and laboratory, so from the beginning, I was surrounded my technology and engineering. I developed a real passion for STEM subjects without even thinking about it.

“It’s important to me that children understand that STEM subjects are for everyone. Just because you might not understand a lesson in science class the first time you hear it, or another kid in class always seems better at maths lessons, doesn’t mean you should feel discouraged. It’s all about looking at it from another way.

“I think it’s just fantastic that teachers like Sally are dedicating an entire week and making it fun for pupils of all ages get involved.”

Children from Ms Harkins’ class spoke enthusiastically about what they learned, including Ebony McBride, who said: “The presentation was good because it gave us ideas about what transport could be like when we are grown up.”

Her classmate Vivienne Nelson, added: “I liked how Caroline compared roads in the past, present and future,” while Keira Mills said she thought Caroline’s ideas for the future were ‘fascinating’.

Their teacher was equally impressed, saying: “Hopefully it’s inspired a few of our pupils to keep in at these subjects and we might even have a few future scientists or engineers on our hands.”