BUILDING STRONG LINKS FOR THE FUTURE

This has been a very busy week which is just the tip of our very busy summer-activity iceberg - literally scores of exciting challenges and events.  A new activity, the Sports Stadium Challenge, features strongly.  Two events took place this week, one at Hoe Bridge School near Woking and the other at Glebelands School in Cranleigh.  At Hoe Bridge a mix of their Year 5 and Year 7 pupils, working in teams of 6, designed and built a wonderful architectural array of different stadia.  The brief was to design a stadium suitable as a sporting venue and then build it, having made their own construction sticks from rolled paper.  The afternoon session tested their creativity skills further by making a presentation about their design to a team of panel.  The winning team were presented with certificates for Best Design award.

 Some comments from Hoe Bridge pupils when asked, ‘What have you learned today?’…

That team work makes building more efficient and much faster."

"That building is fun.  Working together is better than one."

And responses to, ‘How did the scientists and engineers help you today?’…

They helped me by letting me participate in the funnest team work building competition!"
"They helped us perfect the ideas we were trying to use to keep our stadium stable."

The Glebelands event involved 180 x Year 9 students, split into a morning and afternoon session.  Time constraints made this a fast and frenetic activity for both groups, in which the students were tested to work to tight deadlines to complete their structures.  The result was good team working and some excellent designs.  Two teams received awards: overall Winner for Best Design and Highly Commended for Innovation.

Both events were supported by SATRO volunteers from an engineering background who were able to give expert guidance when needed.  The presence of volunteers creates links for the students with the working world as they learn about real-life experiences and career opportunities - in a creative and thoughtful way.

Student's response to, 'In what way may this event have influenced you about future career choices?'...

Well, I wanted to be an engineer and this has shown me what it's like.  And, I've enjoyed it and I want to do it more now."

"I want to find out what careers involve engineering, it's quite interesting."

A teacher's comment...

Even more challenging students joined in and were interested.  Very positive!"