Oakham School hosted a STEM Family Challenge event in which parent and pupil teams tackled an engineering challenge.
The evening, hosted by Oakham’s Design & Technology department, was attended by Year 5 children and parents from seven preparatory schools.
The aim of the event, which took place in the Jerwood School of Design, was to raise awareness of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects and show how rewarding a career within these industries can be.
Teams were challenged with building model sailing craft, which were to be raced along water-filled gutters, powered only by wind from a fan. Head-to-head races took place, with the winning team progressing to the next round.
The challenge was eventually won by The Woozles, a team made up of Witham Hall School pupil Sol and his father Duncan.
Attendees were then treated to a barbecue reception and prizegiving ceremony at Oakham’s B.A.F. Smith Pavilion. The winning team was presented with a brand new 3D printer.
Speaking about the event, Head of Design & Technology Mr Tim Weston said: “I’m very passionate about the importance of STEM subjects, and the range of exciting careers that STEM study can open up.
“The STEM Family Challenge was a really fun event, and it was great to see teams getting stuck-in to the task.
“Hands-on activities like this are a great way of stimulating problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills, while having fun.”
