Balsall Common Primary School

Balsall Street East, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FS Tel: 01676 532254

Email: office@balsall-common.solihull.sch.uk

08.07.2016

Press Release - for immediate release. _____________________________________

Balsall Common Primary School Wins Trophy at F1 in Schools National Final

A team of budding engineers from Year 4 at Balsall Common Primary School has won the

Sponsorship & Marketing Award in the F1 in Schools Challenge Midlands Nation Final held

at the Ricoh Arena.

The F1 in Schools Jaguar Primary School Challenge engages with primary schools’ students

and teachers, it involves designing and manufacturing the fastest car possible, by emulating

the design and engineering processes employed by engineering companies plus 5 other

judging elements.

The challenge involved a team of 4 nine year olds designing and building a car using

computer aided design software, analysing and testing the aerodynamics of their cars as

well as approaching businesses for sponsorship.

The Lightning Strikes, Balsall Common Primary School’s team won their way through from

the Warwickshire regional final at Princethorpe College in April. They have now scooped the

Sponsorship & Marketing award, largely based on our strong branding throughout the

competition.

Howard Rose, Funding & Publicity Manager at Balsall Common Primary School, commented

that, “We are always looking for new ways to excite our pupils as part of their learning. The

F1 Schools Challenge is a fantastic way to encourage children into STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects. The project is taken on by all 90 of our year 4

students, with the best three teams entered into the regional finals and then National Final if

they win.

Thank you to all of the sponsors, Midshire Business Systems, TSC Cars, Signarama,

FleetEvolution, Sutherpark, Wow Signals, Clifford House Fostering, Lavender Hall Auto’s

and Saint-Gobain PAM UK for their help and support. Without their support it would not

have been possible to win this national award.

We must also give a big thanks to Solihull College, who let us use their wind tunnel to test

the aerodynamics of the cars and printed 3D wheels for our entries and Mrs Varga, Year 4

teacher for all of her hard work in getting the team to this point.

Photo: F1 challenge winners awards

Pictured: The Judges with The Lightning Strikes in their pit.

Photo: The team get ready to race.

Pictured from left to right with their awards are Alex M, Mia P, Maia F and Rhys E.

Ends

Howard Rose Funding and Publicity Manager Balsall Common Primary School Balsall Street East Balsall Common CV7 7FS t: +44 (0) 1676 532254 ext 264 m: +44 (0) 7989 515252 e: s2hrose@balsall-common.solihull.sch.uk w: www.balsallcommonprimary.co.uk