Launch Car Challenge

Launch Car Challenge, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) is one of our largest outreach programmes run by Reed's, involving over 600 Year 5 children over an academic year.

With 20 teams from 12 different state schools, the activity is hosted in our innovative FutureTech building where the students design and produce a car that is launched by compressed air. Pupils race their vehicles against other teams in their class and the winning team from each group is invited to compete in the final, held in the Spring term.

Aims

At Reed's, we understand the importance of stimulating interest in Science, Technology and Maths subjects. To inspire the next generators of innovators it's important to target pupils at a young age; the main challenge is making STEM relate to real-life situations.

Our STEM programme is designed to demonstrate everyday examples and to encourage the use of a range of skills to problem solve and inspire a curiosity to learn.

Schools we work with are embedding some of our programmes including Launch Car Challenge directly into their curriculum to maximise the learning opportunities for their pupils.

Over 600 pupils from state schools within Surrey and London directly benefit from this outreach activity.

Background

The Launch Car Challenge was instigated in order to address the UK Government’s objective to strengthen our national position with regard to manufacturing, engineering and scientific research through enhanced STEM education. At Reed’s we designed a programme that was exciting and engaging for young children (Year 5, Age 10), scalable, met core aspects of the national Design & Technology Curriculum for Stage 2, specifically Make and Technical Knowledge, and was free for the schools that attended.

Resources

The activity takes place in the innovative FutureTech building at Reed's school and Reed's Design & Technology department help run this in conjunction with the Events & Outreach Manager.

The session is 3 hours in length and includes a nutritious lunch beforehand.

Thirty pupils from each school attended the sessions where they designed and produced a car that was launched by compressed air. Their vehicles were raced against the other teams in their group on the day.

The winner from each session was then invited back to represent their school at the Launch Car Challenge Finals, which was held in April. Winners had the opportunity to further develop their car in their own time as well as to prepare a presentation describing the methodology in their design, which was on display for the finals.

Project extension tasks and resource booklets were also given to the schools so continuation and extension work could be carried on back at their schools with other pupils as well.

Impact

"The children are treated to a wonderful learning environment that promotes a love of learning and that is always a joy to witness."

Headteacher, Links Primary School

We ask the schools to complete feedback forms every year to access if we can make any changes.

In this, the sixth year we have run the programme 1 day per week for 20 weeks throughout the school year.
Each school was invited to select up to 2 weeks for their pupils to attend. Up to 30 students participated in each session.
Total Reach:
2015/16 - 300 children (10 sessions – 6 schools)
2016-2017 - 600 children (20 sessions – 11 schools – fully booked)
2017-2018 – 600 children (20 sessions – 11 schools - fully booked)
2018-2019 – 600 children (12 sessions – 11 schools – fully booked)
2019-2020 - 600 children (20 sessions – 11 schools - fully booked) (We had to cancel 1 class due to Covid-19)

2020-2021 - had to cancel due to COVID

2021-2022 - 600 children ( 20 schools - 11 schools) Fully booked. Plus we ran the activity for Ripley Court a local prep school

2022-2023 - 600 children (( 20 schools - 11 schools) Fully booked. Plus we ran the activity for Ripley Court a local prep school