Cullompton Community College
Bloodhound Cross Phase STEM Challenge

The Design and Technology Department at Cullompton Community College run a deep learning day each year. Students are taken off their normal timetable to work in teams on a problem solving challenge.

This year we decided to go one stage further and also cover a number of tasks identified in our development plan. These included:
•    Developing  better links with some of our local feeder schools.
•    Ease transition from primary to secondary.
•    Cater for some the needs of our gifted and talented students.
•    Relate what we do to real life situations and harness STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

We chose to relate our STEM subjects to the Bloodhound SSC Challenge, a British attempt to break the land speed record by making a car reach 1000mph.

The Challenge

100 gifted and talented students from years 5 to 8, were put into teams of 3 or 4 and challenged to design and make the fastest rocket powered car. Marks were awarded for teamwork, quality of manufacture, a presentation and speed.

We started the 2 day event off by inviting Peter Wright from Wonderstruck in to present a fantastic interactive show loosely based around fire and rockets.

Primary students were then introduced to our CAD/CAM (computer aided design / computer aided manufacture) software to design and make aerodynamic fins and wings for their car. They took these back to their primary schools to complete making the aerodynamic body shell.

Jonathan Ellis – UK Education Director of The Bloodhound SSC started the second day with a fantastic presentation backed up with photos and videos showing how the real Bloodhound project is progressing. We were fortunate to have a number of other adult helpers including: Dan Johns (Bloodhound design team), Sarah Talboys (Cornwall College), Lynda Broomhead (Petroc College) and Jonathan Williamson (Bloodhound ambassador).

After designing and developing their cars further and presenting their work to a panel of judges, testing was undertaken using compressed air in our hall.

All teams were then given one Estes gunpowder powered rocket to race their car along a 50m wire.  Prizes included; signed books, names printed on the actual Bloodhound car, and for the winning team a visit to the actual Bloodhound super sonic car being tested later this year.

Staff from Science, Technology and Maths were  involved along with the following primary schools:  Clyst Hydon, Plymtree,  Willand, Willowbank and The Duchy.

The winning teams were:

Third place:    Team 2      Matthew Foster (yr7), Shania Billings (yr8), Tom and Joe J. (The Duchy)

Joint second place:    Team 4.  Grace Holmes (yr7), Bethany Broom (yr8), Jessica and Jacob (Willowbank).
    Team  6. Jessica Pike (yr7), William Hender (yr8), Eliza and Samuel (The Duchy).

First place     Team 3. Jessica Godfrey (yr7) Cameron Hutter and Oliver Van Aerle (Willand).

I was very impressed  with the excellent teamwork skills  and enthusiasm  shown on both days and am extremely grateful to all who took part  in making the day such good fun. Developing confidence in problem solving and teamwork are such important life skills.

We are now looking to develop the activity further and run it again next year.

Mr. Jonathan Dovell.
Head of Design and Technology