Private School News

First Engineering Challenge in the South West

The first ever South West of England ‘First Edition’ Engineering Challenge took place at the CLC Sports Centre on the morning of Thursday 10 December. The Engineering Development Trust’s ‘First Edition’ is part of the Widening Participation programme which aims to encourage students from under-represented groups with a current focus on students who will be ‘first in family’, to consider higher education and courses and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Ro Kaye, Community Links Co-ordinator, Creativity, Action and Service Co-ordinator and Physics Teacher at Cheltenham Ladies’ College arranged the morning of activities in conjunction with Engineering Development Trust’s First Edition. 75 Year 8 students from state and independent schools participated in a series of hands-on activities which encouraged aspiration, creativity and innovation. Male and female students developed team building, problem solving and communication skills by working in teams of five or six. They were tasked with designing, building and demonstrating a model of a mechanical system, powered by electric motors, capable of recovering a crashed aircraft from a position in a sandy desert. At the end of the day students were presented with certificates.

Hannah Burne, student at Cheltenham Ladies’ College said, “I enjoyed the day enormously. I relished the opportunity to gain insights into the world of Science and Engineering whilst working with students from other schools and developing my communication and team-playing skills.”

•Schools who attended: Cheltenham College, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cleeve School, Cotswold School, Ribston Hall and St Peter’s School, Gloucester