TWO COVENTRY schools have become the main winners at the Design and Make Challenge, one of Britain’s biggest independent manufacturing and education events.
Ernesford Grange Community Academy and WMG Academy for Young Engineers Coventry beat five other teams to win the Manufacturing and Efficiency titles.
Teams of four students were challenged to make a vehicle that could be propelled by a falling weight using basic materials and tools.
After testing and modifying the vehicles they were raced on a 7.5metre long track, with WMG completing the run in the fastest time.
The all-day event was held at WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull and was organised by the Manufacturing Assembly Network.
More than 35 students swapped their daily lessons to test out their skills.
Ernesford Grange and WMG Academy Coventry both received a 3D printer for their efforts that had been donated by 3DPRINTUK.
Ernesford Grange pupil Jack Finch said: “It was such a good day, where we put into practice a lot of the skills and critical thinking we had learned in the classroom.
“Working as a team was also really rewarding and to win one of the main prizes was surreal, especially bringing a 3D printer back to school for other students to learn on.
“As young people considering a career in engineering, we need more events like this on the curriculum.”
This was the first Design and Make Challenge since before the pandemic and Manufacturing Assembly Network Co-Chair Austin Owens said he was delighted to see the appetite to take part was still there.
