Children at Colgrain Primary School are developing their STEM skills by taking part in an exciting project to build and race their very own car.
The Royal Navy, who have close links with Colgrain, funded the project and bought the Goblin kit car for the school. The STEM project aims to inspire children aged 9-11 years to take an interest in engineering by building their very own drivable electric car.
The kit arrives flat packed and introduces children to a wide range of skills including basic mechanics, design, marketing and robotics. The Royal Navy’s STEM Outreach Team and Navy Engineers along with Glasgow Caledonian University have worked with the children for the last three months to help build the car.
Named after the street where Colgrain Primary School is, the Red Gauntlet Racers are taking their car to compete against other schools at Kames racecourse near Ayr on 29 May.
Councillor Audrey Forrest, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education:
“Delivering innovative STEM learning across our schools, we hope to encourage a growing interest in science, technology engineering and maths, and introduce young people to career possibilities in those fields.
This exciting project at Colgrain is a great example of hands-on learning in a fun and interactive way, working in partnership with experts.
Working on their eco-friendly car from inception to final product has enhanced STEM skills whilst working as a team to produce an exciting product. We would like to thank the Royal Navy and Glasgow Caledonian University for their help with the project. Good luck to our Red Gauntlet Racers, what a great job, you should be really proud of yourselves.”
Pauline Walsh, Colgrain Primary School’s Head Teacher:
“This level of project-based Learning creates powerful learning experiences, in terms of both academic achievement and learners’ personal growth. Pupils have been developing essential meta-skills including focusing, adapting, communicating and sharing through collaboration, communication and critical thinking.
This project has been transformative for our children, establishing connections between their learning and the real world. Well done to everyone involved in this project.”
Commander Dave Pinder, leads the Royal Navy’s STEM OutreachTeam:
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the children at Colgrain and watch their confidence and skills grow throughout the build of the car. Providing practical hands on experience is a great way to expand STEM talent both here in Argyll and Bute and UK wide. All the evidence shows that by introducing STEM activities in innovative ways, in the senior stage of Primary School, helps to engage more people in these subjects and introduces them to potential career opportunities, they may never have thought of before.
We hope that to have inspired the next generation of engineers and can’t wait to see the car in action.”