Students from schools in the North East will become real-life engineers for a day when they research, design and build solutions to real engineering problems.
On Monday 11 February, St. Olave’s School (the junior school of St. Peter’s in York) will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Fulford School (York), The Joseph Rowntree School (York), Archbishop Holgate’s School (York), Selby High School (Selby) and Terrington Hall School (York) will also take part.
On Tuesday 12 February, St Aidan’s Church of England High School (Harrogate) will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Harrogate Grammar School, Harrogate High School, Rossett School (all Harrogate) and Ripon Grammar School (Ripon) will also take part.
On Wednesday 13 February, St John’s School & Sixth Form College (Bishop Auckland) will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College (Ferryhill), Woodham Academy (Newton Aycliffe), Parkside Sports College (Willington), Whitworth Park School (Spennymoor) and Framwellgate School (Durham) will also take part.
On Thursday 14 February, Bydales School (Marske) will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Nunthorpe Academy, Redcar Academy, Sacred Heart RC School (Redcar), Freebrough Academy (Saltburn-by-the-Sea) and Ryehills School (Redcar) will also take part.
These events are part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Faraday education programme which includes 55 practical challenge days across the UK.
The events aim to encourage more young people to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and consider exciting and rewarding careers in STEM that utilise creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.
Each Challenge Day involves six school teams each made up of six 12 to 13 year old students studying science, design technology or maths. Teams are given a secret engineering conundrum which sees them race against the clock to solve a real-life engineering problem, putting their STEM knowledge and skills to the test.
Prof Andy Hopper, IET President said:
The Faraday programme is all about inspiring and attracting tomorrow’s engineers. Engineering is often an invisible industry amongst young people. They sometimes have preconceived negative ideas about what engineers look like, the jobs they do and what they can earn.
Through these challenge days and the entire Faraday programme we aim to encourage more young people to study STEM subjects and consider engineering as a possible career path.
The students attending the challenge days will experience hands-on, practical events to challenge their perceptions and make them realise engineering is an exciting, rewarding career path.
Each team member in the winning group will be awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top three teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final in London in June 2013 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school.
