Cramlington school wins place in national green car engineering challenge
22 Dec 2017 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
A primary school in Cramlington has won a place in a national competition that aims to inspire the next generation of engineers by challenging the youngsters to design a car of the future.
Northburn Primary School is one of just eight schools across the UK that has qualified to build and race their own electric kit vehicles after impressing the judges with their innovative entry in the Green Car Challenge.
Their winning entry to design a car of the future used solar power as the main source of energy and a magnetic propulsion system.
The pupils will soon receive a green electric kit car that they will build and then race in a competition for 9 - 11 year olds which is being organised and sponsored by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
Starting from next term pupils will be working with Newcastle University, which has a focus on technology and the automotive industry, to build the car and test how well it works. A young driver will then be selected and trained to race it in the IET Formula Goblin regional race in the summer.
Jill Nicholson is a STEM teacher at Northburn Primary School. She said:
“ It was our younger year 5 pupils who took part in and won the competition as our year 6 pupils were away on a field trip at the time. To be one of only eight schools selected nationwide to win a green car to build and race is an incredible achievement. The children have had a fantastic time working on the project and are proud and delighted - as we all are - that their imaginative work has been recognised. ”
“ We are looking forward to working with Newcastle University on the next part of the exciting challenge. Who knows, from this, pupils from Northburn Primary could be inspired to enter the exciting world of engineering and be the future faces of the UK automotive industry.”
Northumberland County Councillor Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services said: “ The challenge aims to help engage all young students, both male and female, in engineering and technology and promote it as a subject and as a career choice to help reduce the current labour shortage in the UK.
“ However, the pupils will gain so much more than that by taking part – as well as developing their team-building skills, the project involves everything from project management and learning about the environment - not to mention lots of fun.”