Students Star In 'Electric' Grand Prix

Essex schools were the stars of a race for environmentally-friendly electric cars. The engineering prowess of schools from the Colchester area put three of them in top 10 places in the Essex Regional Heat of the Greenpower electric car racing competition. The event for schools from Essex and Kent was staged at the Ford Technical Centre at Dunton near Basildon and organised by Ford Education Outreach Manager David Cayton, with support from SETPOINT Essex.

The task for schools was to build electric-powered cars and then race them on a special circuit until their power ran out. The fastest lap time was 2 minutes 41 seconds. The event was won by Business Academy Bexley from Kent, beating by seven laps the "Franc N Stein" machine built by students from Colchester's Philip Morant School and College (64 laps).

Fourth was Colchester's Thomas Lord Audley School's "Griffin" also on 64 laps and the Stanway School's "Superglide" was seventh on 60 laps.

From the south of Essex the Basildon Young Engineers' Club's "Hot Prospect" made its debut and came third with 64 laps despite the disappointment of running out of power just yards from the finishing line and being caught by "Franc N Stein". They made up for it by scooping the Best Newcomers and Best Presented Team prizes. Westcliff High School for Girls won the Spirit of Greenpower award with its "Flying Cow" vehicle which came 19th overall with 25 laps.

SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson said: "It was an excellent day and the students all enjoyed the challenge. They had their highs and their disappointments but were committed to their tasks and showed some exceptional technical skills."
Other Essex teams in the top 20 included:

• The Plume School, Maldon - "Project Plume Power" 11th with 53 laps and "Plume Projectile" 20th with 25 laps
• The Stanway School - "The e2v" 15th with 47laps
• Tendring Technology College, Thorpe-Le-Soken - "Phatman" 17th with 27 lap
• Tabor Science College, Braintree - "Tabor Tornado" 18th with 25 laps

Release Date: 22nd August 2008

Talented Young Engineers Showcase Their Skills

Competitive swimmers of the future may soon be enjoying the benefits of an invention by Essex schoolboy Joe Mackay. The pupil from Colchester High School took a top prize in a regional engineering competition for his innovative swimming pool lap counter. It was Joe's ability to demonstrate integration and application of electronics in his project which gained him the award. Joe was one of almost 200 pupils from all over the Eastern region who took part in the Young Engineers for Britain (YEB) Day, a celebration of engineering, technology and design in schools. The event, held at the Rivermead Campus of Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, was organised by SETPOINT Essex.

Other students from Essex schools also did well. A "Moodlight" created by Robert Finnerty of St Martin's School, Brentwood impressed the judges looking for evidence of good manufacture and finish. The light generates a relaxing atmosphere in a room through colour-changing LEDs. Craig Laurie of Tendring Technology College was also highly-praised for the manufacture and finish of a wooden garden chair which dismantles ingeniously. Attending the event. Chelmsford Mayor Councillor Tom Willis said: "I was very impressed by the high standards and delighted to see what these young people achieved."

The event was also an opportunity for students attending after-school engineering clubs to showcase their projects with the relay challenge title going to a team from Westcliff High School for Girls. Linked with the YEB event for secondary schools were K'Nex and Nelex challenges designed for primary schools.

In a separate competition confined to entrants from Essex schools, Chelmsford Engineering Society selected winners who were to be presented with their prizes at a later date.

Release Date: 4th July 2008

Students bubble with business skills

Students at Greensward College showed their business acumen in a Young Enterprise project.

The students from the school at Hockley found themselves successfully running a mock soft drinks company as part of a scheme run by SETPOINT Essex. The project encompasses all the STEM subjects in schools and the students have to solve science, technology, engineering and mathematics problems to succeed.

Run over two days, the 210 Year 11 students at Greensward College had to run their imaginary drinks company, tackling a range of problems. As well as researching their drinks product, the project also involved laboratory work to ensure quality control.

The students also had to come up with a marketing plan for the product and show their customer service skills by dealing with "complaints" and angry letters from consumers.

The project was overseen by Greensward College's Director of Science Rob Davis and Technology and Learning Leader John Dorothy. Mr Davis said: “TWe had 90 students on one day and 120 on another and they responded very well to the challenges set for them.”T

“The project covered all the STEM subjects and we feel it was very successful and we plan to do it again.”

Release Date: 28th January 2008

LEGO competitors take things very seriously

Several Essex schools put up a real fight but failed to make the LEGO nationals finals in 2008. At the regional finals co-ordinated by SETPOINT Essex, the place in the national event went to a school from Suffolk. More than 100 pupils made up 19 teams from 16 East Anglian schools to bid for a final place.

The theme for the event organised by David Cayten, Manager of the Ford Education Outreach, was energy conservation. Students produced a range of excellent and even ingenious ideas from LEGO kits and the judges praised them for the high standard.

Essex schools still came away with high acclaim. Maldon Primary School, King Edward, Chelmsford and Tabor College in Braintree were presented with performance awards.

Release Date: 28th January 2008

Students learn how chemistry comes into everyday life

Essex students discovered how vital chemistry is to modern living and their own career prospects at a two-day "Chemistry at Work" workshop in October 2007.

Some of the biggest companies in Britain were represented at the annual event co-ordinated by SETPOINT Essex at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal. In a range of presentations various companies which use chemistry in their processes explained to the 180 students from all over Essex the many and varied career opportunities available.

Ford Motor Company demonstrated how chemistry played its part in the strengthening of vehicle bodywork while staff at Imperial College, London spoke of the chemistry courses and the career opportunities for successful graduates with degrees.

The health benefits of chemicals were explained by an NHS pharmacist from Basildon Hospital. Other companies and organisations taking part in seminars and workshops included Mars Foods, Johnson Mathey, Dow Chemicals, Energy and Power, Proctor and Gamble, RWE Power and EIC.

Release Date: 28th January 2008

Young Engineers regional Club Showcases supported by Rapid.

Young Engineers new regional Club Showcases have proved an excellent opportunity for clubs to celebrate their wide ranging activities. Clubs around the country have gathered together and displayed and demonstrated their projects - from model gliders, cars, and water rockets to android robots. The more established clubs were able to inspire younger club members and new clubs and give them tips on how to take on more challenging activities.

As a reward for their efforts, all clubs attending the event were given fabulous "Goody Bags" supplied by Rapid which contained exciting resources such as air shooter robots and solar powered buggies. Sarah Smith club leader, Church Crookham Junior School commented "We were thrilled with the goody bags - they show that Young Engineers recognises the efforts all its clubs - even those of us who cannot yet take on really advanced projects."

The clubs also took part in a top secret engineering challenge which was only revealed on the day. The challenge tested their project management and accounting skills, as well as their design and craftsmanship - it was also great fun, with a "TopGear"-style challenge leader board to show team performance!

Alexei Watkins (12) from Newland House School said "I really enjoyed coming to the Showcase and made lots of friends with people from other clubs. I can't wait until September to try some of the projects we saw the other clubs had done."

Details of the Regional Club Showcases, which were open to all Young Engineers clubs - primary and secondary, new and established - can be found on the Competitions pages of www.youngeng.org, and photos are in our online gallery. Why not take a look and enter next year?

Release Date: 12th July 2007

eTech Turns Pupils on to New Experiences

SETPOINT Essex has been given a big tick for its work by Schools Minister Jim Knight. It comes after a record proportion of 14-year-olds are not only reaching, but exceeding, expectations in science and mathematics.

More than 600 students became engineers for the day in a SETPOINT Essex event designed to encourage them to take up careers in science and technology.

Year 5 and 6 students came from 11 Essex schools to the Tilbury Cruise Terminal to take part in the two-day eTech event. They were provided with only simple materials to show off their creative approach to a range of challenges.

Working in teams of four, they tackled three diverse, power-themed tasks. They created a wind generator with K'Nex kits, hot-air weather balloons and rocket cars.

The students were helped by more than 50 volunteer Science and Engineering Ambassadors from companies which included Ford, Visteon, May Gurney and Essex and Suffolk Water.

Organised twice a year since 2002, the eTech events for students are always over-subscribed and SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson said: "They are always a great success and it is often the first time that pupils realise how much fun these subjects can be."

Release Date: 23rd April 2007

Reaching For The Stars

A Mars day helped children work, learn and play at a special event at Stifford Clays Junior School.

The "Red Planet" was the subject of a day-long "Mission to Mars" event aimed at engendering an interest in science. The 80-plus 10 and 11-year-olds were allowed to indulge their Star Trek ambitions in a SETPOINT Essex project where the highlights were firing their own rockets and building space shelters.

Also at the school was the SETPOINT Essex "Space Van" with its high-tech mobile exhibition which pupils were taken through in groups. SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson said: "The Mission to Mars project is very successful and it really fires children's imagination. Today's children are the Star Trek generation and they love most things about space exploration and space travel. The Space Van gets a great welcome when it turns up and the pupils get very enthusiastic about the hands-on Mars day projects."

Release Date: 24th April 2007

Essex Pupils Improve In Science And Mathematics

SETPOINT Essex has been given a big tick for its work by Schools Minister Jim Knight. It comes after a record proportion of 14-year-olds are not only reaching, but exceeding, expectations in science and mathematics.

Statistics show that Essex students are performing even better than the national averages where, in maths, 104,000 more young people are achieving the expected level and, in science, 74,000 more are now reaching expected levels.

In the Essex and Southend education areas, the results were above average for Key Stage 3 mathematics, both with 78% reaching the expected level. With both areas achieving 75% of the expected level in science they exceed the national level of 72%. Mr Knight said: "I congratulate them. Knee-jerk carping about standards ignores the massive improvements in the attainment of young people since 1997." SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson, who spearheads the promotion of science, engineering, technology and mathematics to students, said: "This great news has given a real boost to the work we are doing. It shows our message encouraging students to stick with these subjects is being positively received."

Release Date: 23rd April 2007

Learning Can Be An Eggs-Act Science

Eggs, buckets, ladders and string were the unlikely items used by students from Essex schools to improve their knowledge of science and technology.

They were essential items in a day-long competition organised at Tilbury Cruise Terminal by SETPOINT Essex and sponsored by engineering and maintenance services company May Gurney.

Teams of boys and girls from five schools competed in a set task which they had to solve in an innovative way. The top prizes being taken by King Edward Grammar School, Chelmsford and St Thomas More School at Leigh.

The scenario given to the students was to transport a hazardous load - in this case a raw egg - across a green valley without mishap. One added problem was that after the team worked out the best method of moving the "load" it had to be done blindfold although instructed by a director who could see.

The teams were led by May Gurney engineers who had given up their time to help the students. SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson said: "The teams did very well and came up with innovative - and very successful - ways to complete the task. This was a fine example of how local companies such as May Gurney help us to spark students' interest in pursuing careers in science, engineering, technology and mathematics."

Release Date: 21st February 2007

Early Years and Primary Teaching Exhibition - 29th & 30th September 2006

Our first attendance at this very important show - come and visit us on our stand - M102 and see all our inspiring, educational and fun products - a lot of them new! View the official site

Early Years Prize Draw

Whilst at the Early Years Exhibition, why not enter our prize draw for your chance to win up to £950 of educational products! Or a second prize of £350 worth of products. Click here to see what you could win

Release Date: 6th September 2006

Technology takes a bow

Schoolchildren across Essex have been making a drama out of developing a greater interest in science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Actors from the Crag Rats travelling theatre company have been using performance art to get the message across to thousands of children that science, engineering, technology and mathematics subjects can be not only cool but also make rewarding careers. Nineteen secondary schools across Essex were on the Crag Rats' tour plus 20 primary schools.

For primary school year 5-6 children, the "Queen's Bridge" was a fun and light-hearted tale that looked at the structures and forces involved in beam, arch, suspension and cable bridges. Later children put what they had into building model bridges.

SETPOINT Essex Manager Mike Williamson said: "The Crag Rats have become an annual feature of our programme. The performances are very good and the light-hearted approach to science, engineering, technology and mathematics has been proved to increase student interest in subjects that really should be seen as fun."

Release Date: 26th April 2006

Setpoint Essex Newsletter

Download the Setpoint Essex Newsletter for all the latest news and activities that schools in Essex have been participating in.

Issue 4 of the newsletter highlights include articles regarding the Young Engineers of Britain, First LEGO League, K'Nex Challenge and working with Smart Textiles. Click here to go to download the newsletter (35MB).

Release Date: 20th April 2006

The Education Show

Rapid are pleased to announce that we are sponsors of the Great Debate that will take place at the Education Show, NEC Birmingham on Thursday 9th March 2006.

Rapid will also be exhibiting at the show between the 9th and 10th of March 2006 on stand AZ-X41 so why not come and meet us and join in the debate! Click here to go to the official Education Show site.

Release Date: 26th January 2006