STUDENTS from a Wirral school are driving their careers straight into the fast lane after spending five days designing and manufacturing Formula 1 cars.
The Upton Hall School pupils put their cars to the test on Friday when they raced them on a purpose built track.
Upton Hall School pupils race their F1 cars. Picture by Paul Heaps.
The 12 female students have been taking part in the multi-million pound government backed Automotive Partnership programme, designed to engage secondary school students in automotive manufacturing as part of a major effort to address the industry’s widening skills gap.
Through Industrial Cadets – a five day programme delivered by Bromborough-based NAC Group – the Year 9 pupils were given an insight into the growing opportunities in engineering and were encouraged to get involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) based subjects.
Students put their academic maths and science knowledge to the test to design the miniature F1 cars – built to strict specifications – and used state-of-the-art 3D printers to physically manufacture the cars which they then raced against each other.
The cars travelled the 20m in just 1.065 seconds, reaching around roughly 48mph.
Upton Hall pupils Fae Talbot-Crosby and Chloe Anne Walberg, both 14, with their fellow teammates. Picture by Paul Heaps.
Amanda Holmes, industrial partnerships school liaison officer at NAC Group, said: “The quality of the work the girls have produced has been fantastic.
“When we went in to school and asked who wanted a job in engineering, every single hand went up.
“It’s a really engaging project and really makes them think about the process of designing, manufacturing and marketing.
“The girls have been a real credit to the school.”
Peter Vaughan, subject leader for product design at Upton Hall School, told the Globe it is important for pupils to get a taste of the exciting career opportunities available to them.
He added: “All of the girls will be taking GCSE product design and are all interested in engineering or architecture – if just half of them end up with a career in engineering, that will be great.”
Pupils are now hoping to go on to take part in the North West regional competition of the F1 in Schools programme.
One of those involved in the project was 14-year-old Lauren Williams.
She said: “I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s been incredible. I know this is only a miniature one and a condensed version but we are registered for the full F1 in Schools programme. I hope we can do it – I think it would be amazing.
“I would love a career in engineering – I love engineering, I love designing and I love making things.”
F1 in Schools is the only global multi-discipline challenge in which teams of students deploy CAD/CAM software in the development and deployment of miniature compressed-air-powered balsa wood F1 cars.
- To find out how your school can get involved with the programme, visit nac-group.co.uk
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