Earlier this month a Year 9 King Edward’s School team took part in the South West Regional Final of the F1 in Schools competition, held at the Bristol and Bath Science Park. Much to their delight they won not one but three awards: Best Verbal Presentation All Classes; Best Engineered Car Entry Class; and overall Regional Champions of the Entry Class.
Open to school age children aged between 9 to 19 years, F1 in Schools’ main objective is to help change the perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths by creating a fun and exciting learning environment for young people to develop an informed view about careers in engineering, Formula 1, science, marketing and technology.
F1 in Schools is a global educational programme that raises awareness of STEM and Formula 1 among students and school children in every region, in every country, on every continent. Teams can enter one of three classes: Entry, Development or Professional Class.
The competition requires teams to use CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars. In the Entry Class teams must design and build a small car that is raced against other competitors’ models. However, teams are not only judged on how fast their car can go, but also their car’s research and development, their pit display, a team verbal presentation to F1 in Schools judges and design portfolio.
It is the first time that KES has entered a team in the competition, and following their success, the team hopes to enter the Development Class next year. In the meantime, as Entry Class Champions they have been invited to the National Final as VIP guests, where they will watch the finalists of the Development and Professional Classes go head-to-head.