STEM Project Formula 1 Challenge

Paul Eastwood’s enthusiasm for the ‘Formula One in Schools’ technology challenge has proved infectious for pupils at a Clitheroe school.

Paul, a senior manufacturing technology engineer at Clitheroe, has been a judge in the technology challenge’s national finals for the past three years and has seen first hand how it has benefited the pupils who have taken part.

As one of the site’s ambassadors for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), he thought it was a shame that no local school entered the competition. So he approached Ribblesdale School to encourage their interest.

The result is that the school has entered not one but two teams for the regional finals, being held in November – one from Year 9 and another from Year 10.

The challenge involves pupils not only in designing and building gas powered miniature racing cars from balsa wood but also in setting up marketing displays and presentations to gain sponsorship deals with local businesses to finance their entries.

“It’s a great all-round experience for them,” said Paul. “The challenge has been developed by the Formula One organisation to develop an informed view about careers in engineering, science, marketing and technology.

“The judging takes in a wide range of factors and it’s not just down to the fastest car being the winner on the day.

One of the first companies that the pupils turned to for sponsorship was 3M and the young marketing team were invited to make a formal pitch to site manager Shaun Morley. Shaun was so impressed with the presentation that they left with a pledge for £250.

Ribblesdale’s STEM co-ordinator, Mr Crashley, said the pupils were really enthusiastic about the challenge. “We’ve come into the competition quite late this year but the pupils will be building on the knowledge they gain this time to give themselves a good start for 2010.

“The skills they’re learning go across the curriculum of science, maths and design technology. It even takes in textile design, with t-shirts that they’ll be marketing to friends and family to raise more capital funding.”