As part of our continued focus on STEM subjects, we took a group of technologically-minded pupils from Year 8 and Year 9 to this year’s TeenTech Solent. The TeenTech Solent engineering challenge is part of the national TeenTech events, which aim to inspire pupils across the UK about the contemporary world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Pupils at TeenTech Solent were encouraged to hypothesise and plan their own engineering projects at the event, which would then be pitched against other pupils from schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Year 8 pupils were awarded first place in their age category for their innovative ‘Go Collect’ waste collection and monitoring system that rewards and monitors effective waste collection. Judges, including the TeenTech Solent sponsors, were especially impressed with the pupils’ forward-thinking attitudes towards the environmental impact of waste and the way in which the pupils presented their project.
Our 9 pupils were also awarded first place in their age category for their ‘Brainwaves – Dream for a Better World’ system, where dreams are recorded to enable enhanced-performance, whilst also having the ability to be used as an analytical tool for therapy.
Aside from these competitions, the pupils were also able to work on a series of challenges and experiments with scientists, engineers and technologists from each of the sponsors.
Andy Maskell, Head of STEM at Ballard School and Fellow of the Sinnott Teaching Fellowship, said:
“By challenging pupils to think independently, analyse situations and develop solutions to problems, our pupils are able to produce impressive products using a range of methods. I’m proud to see that the pupils’ STEM abilities have shone through at TeenTech Solent.”
Andrew McCleave, Headmaster at Ballard School, said:
“I am really proud of the approach and creativity of our pupils – they have performed exceptionally well and are a real credit to Ballard school. I have no doubt that they will go on to be engineers and scientists, and be at the forefront of exciting and innovative projects in the future.”
The STEM agenda has a high priority here at Ballard and many links are formed combining the elements of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to create exciting cross-curricular projects and competitions.
Our STEM department is well known for achieving impressive results with their innovative projects, having attained a number of national awards. The department leads the School in developing technological, cross-curricular projects and challenges, often using business and industrial links to develop exciting and successful solutions.
