Engineering Awareness Day
We held an Engineering Awareness Day at the Civic Hall in Whitehaven on Saturday 10th October. Thank You to everyone who helped. To see a selection of photos from the day please click here
Flight Challenge - Bronze Crest Award
On the 5th and 12th March, 28 Year 9 pupils began their Bronze Crest Award. The task set for the pupils was to investigate the Science Technology Engineering and Maths behind flight. This STEM activity was a great fun way of learning about something we often take for granted. The pupils initially spent four hours doing preparatory research in readiness for the six hours of making and experimentation in the following session. The time spent on this shows how valuable the award is and it will be a beneficial addition to the pupils' record of achievement and CV's.
During the activities session, a variety of flying things were produced and the pupils looked at how airflow and drag affected performance, producing a wide range of paper aeroplanes. This was followed by building a small balsa wood glider each, which they then trimmed to try and achieve the "most aerobatic" flight, as part of the judging for the prize-giving at the end. After this, the pupils built a simple air-powered hovercraft to see how friction impacts on movement. A session of flying a radio controlled plane around the sports hall followed, with some real pilot potential shown!
The activity involved a fair bit of paperwork. On day one, each student had to produce research on the topic and on day two kept a running record on how their experiences had taught them about the topic. This reflection on the experiences stood the pupils in good stead for the RAT's day in which the whole School took part at the end of March. ‘Reflective Analytical Thinking Skills' forms an important part of the Crest Award experience for the pupils - so it all ties in nicely!
The pupils were supported in their research by Ms Horner from the Science Department and Mr Esslemont from the Engineering Technology Department. The six-hour session was run by Tony Gill from Cumbria STEM Centre, with support from the same staff, together with Mr Lupton, Director of Engineering in the School and apprentices from Sellafield Ltd; as well as some Graduate Engineers, also from Sellafield Ltd. These Graduate Enigneers are involved in a programme of school work as part of their initial industrial experience. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the people who came into School to help out and guide the pupils; we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.
To complete their Bronze Crest Award, the pupils to produced and delivered a brief presentation on their experiences. Again, this builds on the reflective learning skills we are guiding the pupils towards in School.
The overall winner was Andrew Poyner, who received a radio-controlled plane as his prize. Two runners up, Aaron McGlennon and Gemma Tegg, received a helicopter kit each. It has to be said that the decisions on who received the prizes was very difficult.
A big thank you, and an even bigger "well done" goes to all the Year 9 pupils who took part; they were all superb in attitude, keenness and behaviour and we hope they all enjoyed it. They certainly seemed to! They were a credit to the School throughout the whole experience.
Research & Make
Testing Stage
Overall winner Andrew with Tony Gill of Cumbria STEM Centre Ltd - 1ST
CUMBRIA STEM CENTRE LOGO
PRESENTATIONS
Young Engineers
Congratulations
to
Callum Woodend
Winner of
"Best Development & Marketability"
March 2009
The Big Bang - Young Engineers for Britain Final, 2009
18 year old Callum Woodend competed in the National Finals for the Young Engineer of Britain, 4th to 6th March 2009, with his A Level Engineering project.
Callum's project was to solve a problem that David Coyles from Brooks in Whitehaven had for the disposal of the expanded polystyrene packing that protects their electrical goods. The packaging is very light but also very bulky, made from awkward shapes, which soon fill up very expensive waste skips. The solution that Callum came up with was to recycle the packaging by breaking it down into the granules; so that it can be re-used again for packing or stuffing soft furnishings, toys or as insulation material. Callum's final outcome was based on a blender-type set-up with rotational blades, which break the polystyrene mouldings down into granule form. This method worked out to be extremely efficient.
Callum achieved a National top four place in his age group by winning the category of the Best Development and Marketability. This earned Callum a cut glass trophy and £1,000; £500 for himself and £500 for the School's Engineering Technology Department.
Callum was a great ambassador for the School and for Whitehaven. "I am extremely proud of Callum's achievements in this competition; and I hope he takes the project further in the near future as there is a real potential for a commercial product, as was recognised by his win in this category".
The School and Callum in particular would like to express their thanks and gratitude to local construction firm, Stobbarts Ltd, for their help and assistance with expenses and transport arrangements to London; together with Shepley Engineers and Brayton & Stothard Electrical, also for their help and support.
Excellence in Cumbria Awards
2009
Best Young Apprentice
Year 11 student, Sophie Martin
Congratulations to Sophie Martin who was named ‘Best Young Apprentice' in the County at the Excellence in Cumbria Awards held at Rheged. Sophie was presented with her award by millionaire entrepreneur Richard Farleigh of Dragon's Den.
Sophie gained an NVQ Level II in the Engineering Young Apprenticeship. This was gained through weekly sessions at Lakes College and a work placement at BNS Nuclear Services (previously Alstec).
Subsequently, Sophie was selected as the overall North West winner in this category and was invited to a special celebration with the rest of the North west category winners in July.
In recognition of her achievement, Sophie was also invited to the National Apprenticeship Awards Oscar-style ceremony as a ‘Commended Entrant' for her category.
See Issue 20 of our Newsletter for more information
Richard Farleigh, Sophie, Emer Clarke, Regional Director of LSC
Rob Johnston, Chief Executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
Sophie with her training providers -
Ian Lupton, St Benedict's School and Mark Armstrong, Lakes College
STEM Activity
A STEM cross-curricular activity took place for the whole of Year 9, 14th and 15th July. The Wind Turbine project is linked to many departments in the School i.e. Maths, Science, Geography, English, PE, ICT, D&T/Engineering Technology, Art, Business Studies and Languages. The training for this activity was originally delivered to a member of staff from each department, in preparation for delivering it to pupils. This activity also fits in well with the Cumbria Vision ‘Energy Coast' initiative.
