Jersey College for Girls is the first girls’ school in the United Kingdom to have joined the British Young Pilots programme, a school flying club which allows our students to learn practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge.
Launched in partnership with British Young Pilots and Jersey Aero Club, the flying club consist of weekly classes over a 10-week period.
Students who join the flying club will have a weekly class with a BYP flying instructor. They will learn practical flying skills in classroom/desk top simulators as well as theoretical knowledge covering everything from physics and meteorology to navigation and engineering.
Students will be able to sign up for a single term, or to progress through the BYP syllabus and pass civilian flying test and exams as they go. This means committed students could be leaving College with a private pilot’s licence.
Building real-work skills
Students taking part will experience the thrill of aviation while building real-world skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Through hands-on activities, simulator flying, and fun classroom sessions, they’ll learn the principles of flight, how aircraft navigate using maps and compasses, and how weather and physics affect aviation.
As well as being a fun, adventurous and exciting activity, flying can have a very positive impact on confidence and self-esteem and fosters real world interest in STEM.
From calculating fuel and distance, to understanding forces like lift and drag, children gain practical maths and science knowledge in a way that’s engaging and exciting. They’ll also develop teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills by learning to operate as a crew —valuable in any future career. Whether planning a flight or landing a virtual aircraft, every lesson connects back to real-life learning and builds confidence through exploration and discovery.
Each half term, students will have the opportunity to fly a real aircraft and put their skills to the test, thanks to the support of Jersey Aeroclub.
Flying high
All students who join the school flying club are offered the opportunity to take to the skies in a real aircraft, alongside a qualified instructor. The experience will take place with Jersey Aero Club and give students the chance to put their learning into practice, a hugely exciting and memorable moment.
While the in-school club combines aviation theory with hands-on practice using a flight simulator, the actual flight experience – though optional – is a highly encouraged and exciting part of the programme.
