Fast track for Lynn STEM students

A turbo-charged science project saw young engineers at a Lynn school create their own ‘rocket cars’, which reached speeds of 60 miles per hour.

The Year 7 students at Springwood High School were taking part in the Race to the Line STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths] Challenge, which involved the creation and testing of a small, carbon-dioxide-propelled model car.

“The students worked in groups of four and attached axles, wheels and eyelets so that the car could travel along a wire,” explained Josh Cunningham, Maths Teacher and STEM Lead at Springwood, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust. 

“They then considered the aerodynamics of their creation, adding spoilers, nose cones, fairings, winglets, and any other modifications that they deemed necessary. They needed to consider the science behind these, as well as the practicality.

“Finally they dealt with the most important feature – the appearance of the car!”

After safety checks by trained members of staff, the rocket cars were threaded onto a wire and tested using a specially crafted launcher, which had been devised by Springwood’s construction team.

A speed gun lent by the Police allowed the top speeds to be clocked – showing that the cars reached an impressive 60 miles per hour over the 30-metre stretch.

It was the first time that Springwood had held the event, in which the entire Year 7 cohort of around 280 students took part over two consecutive days.

“Organisation was primarily completed by myself, Victoria Mann and Steph Beech,” continued Mr Cunningham. “The collaboration of our three departments – Mathematics, Science, and Technology – meant that we were able to cover all bases with both the organisation of the event and the links back to our curriculum.”

The Challenge winners received certificates and a trophy, along with an invitation to a STEM celebration evening due to take place at the school next year.

“At Springwood, we take great pride in the events and extra-curricular activities that we offer,” added Mr Cunningham. “We believe that it sets us apart from any other school in the area.

“A Springwood student has the opportunity to do so much more than just sit in a classroom – they are able to design, experiment, create, explore.

“The importance of this cannot be understated, and it is something that we strive to deliver across every department.”