On Tuesday 31st January, talented pupils from local schools had the opportunity to participate in the ‘K’NEX Problem Solving Challenge’, hosted at Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form in collaboration with BAE Systems. Students in Years 6 and 7 from Tolworth Girls’ partner schools, Our Lady Immaculate, Malden Manor, Castlehill, St Andrews & St Marks, St Mary’s and Christchurch, spent the afternoon with special guests from the engineering company taking on a challenge which would test their skills of construction and teamwork.
To begin the afternoon, the volunteers from BAE systems gave a presentation about engineering, and their job solving large and small scale technical problems. The BAE representative, Susie, mentioned that many students “tend not to know what engineering is about” and stressed the importance of it being recognised as a career path. “Seeing something working is great,” she said and mentioned, through the help of an apprentice visitor, that BAE offers high level apprenticeships for those interested in using their maths skills in the future.
The students worked in teams of 4, and were set the challenge to use K’NEX and a piece of string to construct a mechanism that would lift the rubber egg they were given; the team with the highest measurement from the ground won. However, all teams had to stay within the rules. They couldn’t tie the string directly to the egg, they only had two official attempts and they mustn’t hold onto the K’NEX construction. The volunteers from BAE, advised the teams to remember compromise, considering they were limited by time, materials and strength. Some chose to assign different roles within the group to ensure effective teamwork. Many teams approached the task by creating a pully system to raise the egg securely, with some opting to create a box tower and a secure structure. As children, a selection of the students had used K’NEX, and this had enhanced their skills in the challenge. Once all teams had been measured for their maximum height, it was announced that the Year 7 group from Tolworth Girls’ had reached the tallest height of 1.30m. Due to their success in winning the previous year, they passed up the opportunity of victory to the team from Our Lady Immaculate who had the 2nd tallest height of 1.22m.
The response during and after the event was extremely positive. One student, Lily May, said she felt “privileged and thankful” to be able to participate, and that “it had been a really good experience for us and our learning.” The head teacher, Siobhan Lowe, of Tolworth Girls’ School said it had been “a fantastic opportunity for our local learning community,” she was “delighted to see so many young people developing the skills they will need for future employment.” The event was certainly a hit with everybody from the pupils to the teachers, and provided a fascinating and enriching afternoon.
Kathryn Loosley, Tolworth Girls' School & Sixth Form
