The victorious teams, from Beechwood Park School, St Albans, Hertfordshire and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were among 13 UK schools competing at the final of the nationwide competition, developed by Toyota Manufacturing UK in partnership with electronics supplier Rapid.
At the national final at Toyota's Manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire on Saturday 16th May, teams which had already won their regional competitions competed for the national titles in two categories – solar power or PIC microcontroller.
During the final the team presented their project folders and vehicle to a panel of judges from Toyota and Rapid. The climax for most competitors was the moment they set their vehicle loose on the Challenge racetrack – a straight race for teams in the solar power category, or guiding their vehicle around obstacles for teams in the PIC microcontroller category. The solar power competition was won by ‘Team Tordepo’, made up of team members Dan Underwood, Jack Richmond and Neehar Shetty from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Runners up in the solar competition were Maltby Comprehensive School, South Yorkshire and Beechwood Park School, Hertfordshire. ‘Team Mafia’ made up of team members Jake Pirrie, Felix Terrel, Matthew Coster, Matthew Cloke and Nick Ford from Beechwood Park School, triumphed in the PIC microcontroller category. Runners up in the PIC competition were Kirk Hallam Community School, Derbyshire and Quilley School of Engineering, Hampshire.
As category winners each team has won £1,000 in cash for the school and an action-packed adventure holiday for the team in Austria which will be taken in the summer holidays.
The TTC aims to stimulate the interest of young students in technology and engineering, whilst encouraging pupils to consider the environment and the potential use of recycled materials. Targeted at Key Stage 3 & 4 students aged 11-16 years old, teams of pupils are challenged to design and build an environmentally friendly model vehicle using either solar power or PIC microcontroller.
Now in its sixth year as a national challenge, the TTC continues to be popular with schools, providing a fun and affordable practical challenge to support classroom learning. Over 14,000 pupils from across the UK have participated in the 2008/9 challenge, with 417 schools registering nationally.
Once registered into the competition, teams received a free kit from Rapid with all the components necessary to build a vehicle; they then make modifications to earn more marks in the competition by making their vehicle more environmentally friendly, improving their vehicle performance and creating their own team identity.
During February, schools submitted a project folder to enter stage one of the competition. The teams judged to have submitted the best project folders were invited to progress to the regional finals in April & May, where a winner was judged in each category. All regional final winners received £250 for their school and were invited to the national final.
Peter Hamer, Principal of the Kirk Hallam Community Technology and Sports College, said "Toyota Technology Challenge is an excellent way of educating young people about the world of Engineering. Not only does it encourage students to develop their knowledge and skills in engineering, but it also encourages them to develop skills in teamwork and the confidence to present their work in an adult commercial environment.
Toyota’s commitment to high quality in all it does and its commitment to the environmental agenda inculcates the whole competition. Students are made to feel valued at both the regional and national finals of the competition.
For some students this is a life changing experience."
Karen Bradley, Communications & External Affairs Manager, Toyota Manufacturing UK, said: “The standard at the national final was exceptionally high and we have been impressed by the quality of entries from all participating schools. We hope that this experience will inspire pupils to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing in the future.”
Kate Rushworth, Education Commercial Manager of Rapid, said: “We are proud to partner Toyota again in the sixth year of this wonderful competition. We have received an overwhelming response this year, with the standard being exceptionally high from all participating schools. It is always a pleasure to work with such creative and enthusiastic teams involved in a national challenge designed to support engineering in the future.”
More information:
Contact
Steve Carter
Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
T: 01332 283666
steve.carter@toyotauk.com
Relevant link
www.toyotafund.eu/our_projects/technical_education/toyotatechnologychallenge.aspx
www.rapidonline.com/toyota/resources.htm
