Car build challenge for pupils
RACING EVENT AIMS TO INSPIRE ENGINEERS OF FUTURE
PUPILS showed their drive and enjoyed a turbocharged day in the exciting form of a racing tournament.
The Greenpower Education Trust recently brought its engineering experience to local schools in the form of the IET Formula Goblin project which aims to inspire children from nine to 11 to take an interest in engineering in a fun and innovative way.
The project helps children to build a drivable electric car, which came flat-packed.
The programme got off to a flying start, with Gateshead International Stadium playing host to a race for participating schools last week.
One school, Holystone Primary, became involved after hearing about the scheme at a regional headteacher conference, and with a support grant from North East engineering charity, the Reece Foundation.
Headteacher Stephen Baines said: “The project was a very exciting opportunity for the Year 5 children, and we received so much interest that we had to choose 10 children at random for the team. We also made an after school club so that as many children could be incorporated as possible, and could spend more time working on the car.
“The electrics were the main challenge for both the kids and the teachers, so the build actually took longer than we expected”.
Thankfully, through a parent, the children were able to solve their wiring woes by partner- ing with some more traditionally qualimechanics, fied who came to their aid from Newcastle firm Hodgson Toyota.
Danny
Jarvis, group marketing manager for Hodgson Toyota, said: “Our managers enjoyed spending time on this project, interacting with the children and, in particular, seeing their enthusiasm for engineering, which is what the entire project is about.
“Not enough children in the region, or the country, are getting into this field of work. Plus, grown men helping kids make go karts to race is hardly work is it?”
The technicians checked their work and also took along their kit car to the dealership to explain how all of the systems worked in action, putting it on ramps next to a Toyota Hybrid vehicle for comparison.
Mr Jarvis added: “The children enjoyed the input from the technician the most as he was able to show them how their vehicle compared to a real one in the workshop and obviously cast a professional eye over their work, which would definitely give them an advantage in the race. “Hodgson Toyota have made a pledge to support the school each year from now on and have also now formed an alliance with Greenpower for future events.”