Twelve eager (new) Year 10 pupils from Cirencester Deer Park School made their way over to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Building at Cirencester College on Friday 21 June 2019 for the annual Rotary Club Technology Tournament. There were three A Level teams from the College and three Deer Park teams - two other schools had dropped out.

The challenge they undertook was the hardest one yet! The young people were given the scenario of an overturned train that was carrying toxic chemicals. The chemicals needed picking up and placing in a safe area. The brief was, therefore, to design a crane that could run along a track, pick up the chemicals and deposit them in a safe area.

The solution was looking for a vehicle with a jib attached.  The A Level pupils had the added complication of a bridge, which restricted the height of the crane. Our pupils were given the opportunity to create a pulley system operated by a reverse switch, which could lower the magnet to pick up the container and then drop the container in the safe area.      

The pupils were marked on their portfolios and Eliza, Emma-Jo, James and Alex were in the lead with their folios but the team work and testing of the winning team's crane and pulley system meant that Alex, Hugh, Ollie and Thomas came first overall.  Well done all of you.

Head of Design, Mrs Evans: "The STEM Challenge Day was a great opportunity for our pupils to work as teams and solve a real life situation.  Our thanks to organiser John Smith from The Rotary Club of Cirencester and to Cirencester College for hosting the day. We look forward to taking part again next year."