MORE than 3,500 children from 94 schools across Cornwall, including Otterham Primary School, have registered to take part in a model rocket car competition being staged as part of the BLOODHOUND Project.
Registrations for the Race for the Line, Micro:bit Model Rocket Car Competition officially closed on October 31 and Rachel Delourme, science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) advisor at Cornwall Council, is excited to see so many local children applying to taking part.
Ms Delourme said: “The BLOODHOUND Project is using a 1,000mph world land speed record attempt to inspire the next generation to enjoy, explore and get involved in STEM.
“We’re delighted that this project has inspired so many local schools, children, adults and local businesses to get involved. This is a great opportunity to get students excited about STEM, to work as a team and get hands on experience of programming and aerodynamics in one of the most fun ways possible.
“So far we have recruited 3672 children from 94 schools, including children electively home educated. We also have ten ambassadors and 20 race volunteers.
“Software Cornwall is providing free teacher training on programming Micro:bits and Newquay Tretherras and St Columb Minor School will be working together to offer expertise in Python programming. They already have experience running primary days using Lego EV robots and Newquay Tretherras is one of the few centres in Cornwall to offer A Level computer science, so we’re really excited to have them both on board.”
Children from schools across Cornwall will compete as part of 918 teams at approximately five race hubs. The goal is simple — the two fastest primary and secondary teams to compete in the Model Rocket Care Competition open days, being held during February and March 2017, will be invited to the regional finals at the end of March. The fastest primary and secondary team at each regional final will then go to the finals in June.
The winning team will get an all-inclusive trip to South Africa to spend a week with the BLOODHOUND race team, plus a cash prize of £1,000.
One of the key priorities in Cornwall Council’s Education Strategy and its Raising Aspirations and Achievements Strategy (RAAS) is to secure high quality provision, widen local opportunities and promote equalities. The council has been working with local partners to bring this project to Cornwall to help meet this priority and to encourage more of our young people into STEM related subjects.
Lead member for young people in the council, Cllr Andrew Wallis, said: “Cornwall is very lucky in that BLOODHOUND is coming here to do some major testing before it embarks on its journey to South Africa. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in Cornwall to be part of that history. It will be the chance to see first-hand engineering at the highest level.
“I hope by BLOODHOUND coming to Cornwall, it will inspire young people to be engineers of the future.”
More information about the project is available at www.bloodhoundssc.com/education