faraday challenge

The Faraday Challenge is an annual competition of STEM activity days with a real-world challenge for Year 8 students facilitated by the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology).

Led by our Physics department, UGS is proud to take part every year, and it is a vital day of learning designed to further key STEM skills in problem-solving, team-working and communication.

A cohort of our Year 8 students formed teams to work on prototype rockets, with the brief to design a programmable rocket to transport them from hanger to launch site.

Throughout the day in our Conference Room, the students worked together with the support of Mr Murray, Mr Leech, Mr Sharp, Mrs Wilson and Dr Bethell on plans and designs, for financing, assembly, construction, and programming.

In each team, students took on the role and responsibility of accountant, software engineer, mechanical engineer, and aerospace engineer.

Our Science department is particularly proud to encourage female students to participate, as women are currently under-represented in the field of engineering, despite it offering highly paid, flexible, and stimulating career opportunities.

After a break for lunch, it was time for the teams to reassemble, deliver their presentations, and test their robots, while staff evaluated and awarded points for completion of each part of the procedure.

It was then time to head out onto our front field, where Mr Leech had prepared the ultimate test: the compressed air ready for rocket launch!

Each team eagerly awaited their turn and for their designated aerospace engineer to take their place to test the prototype.

While Mr Murray analysed the data and verified the results back inside, our students enjoyed a video screening from engineers at the IET, congratulating them on their efforts, and reiterating the core importance of engineering to society and to the wider world. 

A great day of hands-on learning and enrichment for all, that a further cohort of Year 8s will enjoy on Friday; with huge thanks to Team Science for organising this wonderful opportunity for our students.