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Back to News ListYear 8 Visit to RAF Benson
Posted on: 27th Apr 2026Our Year 8 students had the chance to visit RAF Benson for the “See What You Can Be” STEM event.
RAF Benson is an active Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire, best known as a base for helicopter operations and home to crews who support a wide range of missions across the UK and beyond.
A small group of our female students spent time listening to women from a wide range of careers. There were pilots, engineers, emergency service workers, RAF personnel and athletes, all sharing honest accounts of how they got to where they are now. The students heard about the hard work, the setbacks and the determination it takes, which made it feel real and not out of reach.
They also took part in practical activities led by RAF teams and STEM ambassadors. It was good to see them getting involved, asking questions and giving things a go, even when it pushed them a little outside their comfort zone.
What came through clearly across the day was a simple idea. You do not have to follow a set path. Many of the speakers had taken unexpected routes into their careers, and that you can achieve this in many different study and job routes.
On the journey home, Students were talking about careers they had not thought about before and asking what subjects they might need to take things further. It gave them something to think about in a very real way.
Thank you to everyone at RAF Benson for putting on such a well organised event and for giving our students the opportunity to see what could be possible for them.
