Year 8 Engineering Challenge

Year 8 design and test roller coasters and cars in a fantastic event run by the EDT and funded by ARISE Hatfield

We welcomed the Engineering Development Trust on Monday 19th November who, with volunteer STEM Ambassadors from businesses, ran a fantastic whole day workshop for all pupils in Year 8. We heard how engineers are the inventors of the future, creating solutions to a wide range of problems using innovative technology and creative thinking. We all gained a great insight into this field of employment which is experiencing great shortages of well qualified employees. The girls were asked to consider the business of roller coaster design and were then challenged to apply their understanding of forces and motion to design and create roller coasters, which were then tested using a marble as the carriage. Later in the afternoon session cars were designed and tested using elastic band power. Some amazing designs were created, and the STEM Ambassadors were delighted with the way the girls rose to the challenge. We would like to thank EDT and the STEM Ambassadors for giving up their time, ARISE Hatfield for the funding for the project and the pupils of Year 8 for getting involved and stretching their skills.