Isles Schools compete in Bloodhound Rocket Car Education Project

The Bloodhound Education Project, provides educational materials to all participating schools. Such material can be used by maths and science teachers to relate educational concepts to one of the biggest engineering challenges of our era - the Bloodhound Rocket Car designed to break the World Land Speed Record.   North Highland College, as the Bloodhound HUB for the north of Scotland, is working to bring the Bloodhound Challenge to as many northern schools as possible.  This year, in conjunction with Orkney College, North Highland is extending the project to schools on the remote islands of Sanday and Stronsay to ensure that these students have the opportunity to experience the excitement of the engineering profession, and encourage them to consider careers in science and engineering.

This challenge took place yesterday (08/03/17) at Sanday Junior High School, with pupils from Stronsay Junior High School coming over for the day to take part in the challenge.

Pam Rose (Stronsay School) and Carolyn Dixon (Sanday School)  were the two teachers involved with this activity, and both indicated that it had been both interesting and educational for their students, presenting them an engineering design challenge that motivated them to learn about aerodynamics, physics, team work, materials and tools.   Based on the enthusiasm of the students participating, it was felt that the project was a real success.

Eight rocket cars were constructed by the participating students.

Team Cut Away (from Stronsay School) was comprised of team members Elizabeth Miller, Philip Piper and Mikey Stevenson.

Blue Lightning (from Sanday School) was comprised of team members Frideswide Clarkson, Caitlin Muir, Chris Owen and Raven Readhead.

Having finished atop the competition in Orkney, these two teams will now compete at North Highland College, in Thruso in April, against six other northern schools, from Tain, Golspie, Dornoch, Wick, Thurso and Farr.   The top teams from that competition will be eligible to compete in the Scotland Finals at Perth in June.