South West schools to take part in UK engineering challenge

 

Students from schools in the South West will become real-life engineers for a day when they research, design and build solutions to real engineering problems.

 

  • On Tuesday 20th November, John Bentley School (Calne) will host a Faraday Challenge Day.  Teams from St Johns Marlborough (Marlborough), Abbeyfield School (Chippenham), Sheldon School (Chippenham), The Springfields Academy (Calne) and The Clarendon College (Trowbridge), will also take part.  
  • On Wednesday 21st November, teams from Chilton Trinity School (Bridgwater) will take part in a Faraday Challenge Day.  
  • On Thursday 22nd November, Braunton Academy will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Pilton Community College (Barnstaple), Chulmleigh Academy Trust, Holsworthy Community College, South Molton Community College and Torrington Community College, will also take part.  
  • On Wednesday 5th December, teams from Dorchester Middle School will take part in a Faraday Challenge Day.  
  • On Thursday 6th December, Newton Abbot College will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Coombeshead Academy, Dawlish Community College, Teignmouth Community College and Teign School, will also take part.

 

These events are part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Faraday education programme, which includes 55 practical challenge days across the UK.

 

The events aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by using creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.

 

Each Challenge Day involves six school teams each made up of six 12 to 13 year old students studying Science, Design Technology or Maths. Teams are given a secret engineering conundrum which sees them race against the clock to solve a real-life engineering problem, putting their STEM knowledge and skills to the test.

 

Gareth James, IET Head of Education, said: “Students taking part in the Faraday Challenge Days experience hands-on design and practical work giving them a peek into the life of a real engineer, the variety of engineering out there and the central role it plays in our everyday lives.

 

“There is huge demand for new engineers and technicians and we are confident that this will challenge young people’s perceptions of engineers and hopefully make them consider engineering as a career choice.”

 

Each team member in the winning group will be awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top three teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final in London in June 2013 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school.

 

The Faraday Challenge Days are part of a wider Faraday education programme, made up of a whole host of teaching resources and activities to inspire and attract the engineers of tomorrow.

 

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