Schools line up for Eco-Marathon

The Shell Eco-Marathon UK Schools Initiative passed the half way point in its selection process this week, with 18 schools selected to take part in the programme.

The Shell Eco-Marathon UK Schools Initiative passed the half way point in its selection process this week, with 18 schools selected to take part in the programme.

It was originally planned that 20 winning schools would be invited to take part; however, due to exceptional levels of interest, the programme has been extended to 30 schools.

A total of 3400 schools from across Britain were invited to enter the initiative which was launched at Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit in July.

The programme, which is supported by the Learning Grid, The Royal Academy of Engineering and Honda (UK), has been developed to encourage secondary schools throughout the UK to include engineering on the curriculum.

Participating schools will each be supported by a local engineering company.

The 18 schools that have already been selected are: St Benedicts, Cumbria; Bournemouth School, Dorset; Felpham Community College, West Sussex; Cottingham High, East Yorkshire; Sandbrook Primary, Wirral, Merseyside; Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire; Tabor Science College, Braintree, Essex; Basingstoke School Plus; St James High, Exeter; Leon School and Sports College, Milton Keynes; Northampton School, Northamptonshire; Bushey Meads School, Bushey, Hertfordshire; Kingsmead Technology College, Cannock, Staffordshire; Cleeve School, Cheltenham; St Celias, Wandsworth, London; St Johns School, Marlborough, Wiltshire; Edlington School, South Yorkshire; and Stamford School, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Professor Matthew Harrison, Director of The Royal Academy of Engineering Best Programme explained: "These schools are a priority for The Royal Academy of Engineering".

"By supporting them with an entry in the Shell Eco-Marathon UK, we are exercising our strategic objective to encourage a more diverse set of young people into engineering".

Bob Gilbert, Chairman of Motorsport Development UK said: "The level of demand from schools just goes to show how keen teachers and their students are to get involved".

"This initiative, with its focus on energy efficiency, is highly relevant to the challenges that will face these young people in their careers".

"I am particularly pleased that the programme has attracted so many entries from schools who would not traditionally have taken part in this type of activity".

Each school will benefit from a free Shell Eco-Marathon UK starter pack to assist them with the project.

The pack includes a four-stroke GX31 engine supplied by Honda (UK), a design and build manual and an introduction to a locally based engineering company who will assist and mentor the project.

The 18 schools were selected for three reasons: where there is no tradition of engineering the initiative will promote the inclusion of engineering activities in a school, otherwise it will support a school where there is other valued engineering activity such as Engineering GCSE, young apprenticeships, young engineers' club or similar, or finally it will support a school where there is a teacher with valued engineering expertise or experience.

Natalie Griffiths, Head of Technology at Cottingham High School expressed her school's enthusiasm for the initiative: "Our participation in a high profile and highly rewarding initiative such as this will encourage both students and staff".

"I have taught many girls whose design and development skills would make them fantastic engineers, but will not consider engineering because of society's perceptions of the faculty".

"It would be great to use this opportunity to help overcome the gender stereotype surrounding engineering".

Explaining Leon School and Sports College's involvement in the programme, R Jhita from the Design and Technology Department said: "Although we have no engineering background, this excellent and exciting opportunity would afford the students, staff and school with an excellent platform to display their enthusiasm, skills and dedication".

Norman Koch, organiser of the Shell Eco-Marathon UK, commented: "It's extremely exciting that we have had so much interest in the Schools Initiative".

"I believe the students from all the selected schools will benefit both educationally and personally through taking part".

"Personally, I am especially looking forward to seeing all their efforts come to fruition at the 30th Shell Eco-Marathon next July".

The challenge for schools will be to design, build and compete with their own car in the Shell Eco-Marathon UK scheduled for 12th and 13th July 2006.

The focus of the competition is improved energy efficiency, which is an investment focused firmly on the future and on sustainable energy resources.

These students will be building the cars of the future.

The final list of schools will be announced over the coming weeks.

Back to top