LIGHTYEAR FOUNDATION HOST F1 IN SCHOOLS VIRTUAL LABLightyear Foundation is a small but mighty UK-wide charity committed to breaking barriers to disabled children participating in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Disabled children face multiple disadvantages in education, careers and life skills and are all too often excluded from STEM. They exist to ensure that no disabled child is denied the opportunity to love and learn from these subjects or to go on to contribute to society in these fields. In June 2022, 26 students from John Watson School in Oxfordshire, a community special school for children with severe, complex, or profound learning difficulties, took part in our Formula 1 Virtual Lab, delivered in partnership with F1 in Schools. Groups of 6–7 students attended weekly 45-minute sessions for four weeks in a mixture of online and in-person delivery. The Lightyear Foundation has worked with the resources and engineers at F1 in Schools to develop an inspirational hands-on experience for the Key Stage 3 and 4 children in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Schools. The f1 virtual Lab enabled the students to experience the thrill of building and launching a model F1 in Schools car! The students loved the project – particularly the hands-on, face-to-face aspects. They loved learning new Makaton and BSL signs to explain the forces experienced by the cars. The teachers found this useful training too. Having real engineers take part in the project was a key point in building enthusiasm and engagement. Students loved getting individual feedback from their group’s engineer on the aerodynamics of their car (via a Zoom call). The students learned that engineers are approachable and interesting people – and that engineering is absolutely fascinating. The in-person wind tunnel and race day were definitely the most engaging sessions for all students. With it being in person, rather than online, it was much easier for the Lightyear Foundation to modify the sessions based on need and engagement. Students were delighted to learn how to operate the wind tunnel and smoke machine for themselves and to see the direct effects of their input. The Race Day caused huge excitement as the students arrived at school to see a 10m long racetrack through the communal area! The students taking part in the project were enthused and engaged by the hands-on aspects of the F1 in Schools Virtual Lab. Of those able to answer, 69% gave the project top marks for fun and 63% gave the project top marks for understanding what they had done. Lightyear Foundation found that compared to a school science lesson, 96% of students were more engaged by the F1 Virtual Lab. They also wanted to compare the project with how engaged the students are with their favourite lesson – which can include Riding for the Disabled and swimming: They learnt that 75% were more engaged with the lab than with their favourite activity! The F1 Virtual Lab has the power to bring innovative and inspiring STEM learning experiences to students in SEND schools. Lightyear Foundation are excited to explore the development of this partnership with F1 in Schools so they can bring the wonder of race car engineering into more special school classrooms. “Pupils were engaged and motivated to participate. Fabulous teaching us the terms in sign language, thank you!” - Deputy Head “The joy in the room was what this is all about! I love how engaged the students were and that they were allowed to load and launch their cars.” - F1 in Schools Employee
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MISSION COMPLETED! Just to let the F1 in Schools community know, our Founder and Chairman, Andrew Denford completed his mammoth charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats – 969 miles in 9 days!! 🏆🚴 Click the link below to view his story and to donate! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/obccandrewd TOM TAKES THE HELM FOR UK F1 IN SCHOOLSWe’re delighted to introduce you to Tom Milner, who recently made the move to F1 in Schools, having worked in commerce and education. After a university degree in Design Practice Tom started his career in graphic design working in the fashion industry. He then opted to change direction, retraining as a teacher and quickly seeing the opportunity, and need, to improve D&T, recognising the value of creative arts and engineering through STEM projects such as F1 in Schools. After eight years in teaching, latterly as an Assistant Head, Tom joined F1 in Schools.
Tom explains his reason behind the move saying, “My passion for providing young people with a modern and relevant Design & Technology and Engineering experience brought me to F1 in Schools, where the opportunity to work with and challenge young people nationally was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.” And his goals, “The main aim for me as the UK National Project Manager is to provide aspiration for young people from any walk of life, to reach those in places of the country that don’t have access to the same opportunities as a lot of young people of a similar age. I want to inspire and encourage, through F1 in Schools, young people to get into STEM careers, not only in Motorsport but in the Engineering sector. I would like to share this amazing competition with STEM leaders and teachers across the country to support the modernisation of the subject area to ensure that Design & Technology and Engineering education has a sustainable future.” When he’s not working, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 year old daughter. He supports Leicester City, says Pepperoni Pizza is his favourite food and loved visiting Copenhagen with its combination of cycling, street food and beer, and the last song on his Spotify was Maribou State by Scarlett Groove, does that make him trendy?! Tom will be spearheading the UK F1 in Schools programme, so if you’re competing this year, you may see or speak with him during the course of the competition. Motorsport Network to host F1 in Schools U.K. National Finals at the Autosport International Show F1 in Schools and Motorsport Network are delighted to announce that the F1 in Schools U.K. National Finals 2022, where student will showcase their own miniature F1 racing cars, will be hosted at the Autosport International Show. The Finals will be held from 12 to 14 January 2023 at NEC, Birmingham, with the F1 in Schools event taking centre stage at this premier motorsport show.
F1 in Schools first held a U.K. National Finals at the event in 2005 and since then has returned for 3 annual events. The U.K. National Finals draws together successful teams from 10 regional finals, with the best of the young engineering, entrepreneurial and creative talents competing for the U.K. National Champions title. This brings with it a chance to compete at the F1 in Schools World Finals, traditionally held alongside one of the Formula 1 Grands Prix. A straightline racetrack of approximately 20 metres in length will dominate Hall 4 of the Birmingham venue, with the National Finals teams racing their miniature Formula 1 cars down the track in the blink of an eye. Surrounding the track will be each team’s ‘pit displays,’ where attendees can get an up-close view of the work that the teams put into the design and manufacture of their scale-model race cars. Visitors to the Autosport International Show will be able to watch the racing, tour the pits and find out more about the competition from the students. F1 in Schools will also be showcasing its Primary School challenge, with younger visitors having the opportunity to make their own Formula 1 car and then racing them on the specially designed track, a highly interactive STEM learning tool. The last edition of the Autosport International Show in January 2020 featured more than 600 motorsport and automotive brands and was attended by over 90,000 visitors, underlining its position as Europe’s largest motorsport show. Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, says of holding the U.K. National Finals at the Autosport International Show: “We’ve had some great events at the Show and we’re excited to be returning there next year. We love having the opportunity to showcase F1 in Schools to the industry and the Show’s tens of thousands of visitors, and the students competing also have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Show, with its multitude of activities and displays.” “We feel very privileged to be a major feature of the Show and it will be a great opportunity to promote our UK STEM talent, as well as be a centrepiece for our STEM education programmes. “ Ben Whibley, Director of Events, Autosport Media UK, added, “We've enjoyed seeing F1 in Schools develop over the last two decades and are excited to see them return to the Autosport International Show in 2023. In many ways, it is as iconic as the sport’s original Diversity & Inclusion programme; it has opened up the world of engineering and STEM for so many young people and especially girls, from around the globe.” “Visitors to the 2023 Autosport International Show will witness first-hand the student's creative and entrepreneurial designs during the trade and public days. We look forward to hosting the U.K. National finals in January 2023 before they embark on the World Finals.” MACH 2022We are proud to be exhibiting at @MACHexhibition at the NEC Birmingham between 4-8 April 2022.
Come and test your reactions 🚦🏁 on the #F1inSchools track and find out what it takes to be a champion 🏆 MACH 2022 IS THE UK’S BIGGEST EVENT FOR INSPIRING, INNOVATING AND CONNECTING MANUFACTURING. Register now: https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/29yxn0q97uzy8?actioncode=NTWO000871CPJ&partner-contact=2et3a808viv3p It will be a day to remember for SBA Avidity Racing, a team of students from Scarborough UTC who celebrated being crowned UK National Champions at the 2021 F1 in Schools National Finals held last week at the F1 in Schools headquarters, Brighouse. The team win through to the 2022 Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals, receive work placements at Alpine F1 in Enstone, Oxfordshire, UCL Engineering bursaries to the value of £5000 and the UK Champions trophy. SBA Avidity Racing with team members Missy McArdle - Team Principal and Business Manager (17), Libby Atkin - Project Manager (16), Alex Jenkin - Design and Manufacturing Engineer (17) put a supreme effort into winning their F1 in Schools National Champions title. SBA Avidity also won the Best Engineered Car Award supported by Williams Racing and Team Principal, Missy McArdle, won the Girls on Track UK Award supported by Motorsport UK. Missy, said of winning the Champions title, “It hasn’t sunk in yet as to what we have achieved. We’ve put in hundreds and hundreds of hours staying late after school for many, many evenings, but it was all worth it. F1 in Schools offers so many opportunities for everyone, whether you go to the best private school or a local secondary school, it’s open to all. Winning the Alpine F1 placements is amazing. I can’t actually believe we’re going to be doing work experience at an F1 team.” “The next step is the World Finals. We think we’ve done a lot of work now, but I know there will be so much more work for us ahead. We’re so immersed in it right now, but we just need to keep stepping it up and get to that next level. We’ve spotted areas of improvement for our car, how we want to re-design it and go again. We want to give our partners a massive shout out, to thank Scarborough Business Ambassadors, Nissan, Igus, BDC Machinery and Carter Bearings for all the help they’ve given us, our car wouldn’t be at the level it is now without their help and support.” Blackout, from St John’s College, Cardiff were the runners-up to SBA Avidity Racing, also receiving an invitation to the World Finals to represent Wales. They celebrated setting a new UK speed record during the competition, with their car recording a time of 1.036 seconds on the official F1 in Schools track, surpassing the previous record of 1.041 set in 2019. The third placed team, Eclipse from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham join Blackout and SBA Avidity Racing at the World Finals. Scotland will also be represented at the World Finals, with Fibonacci from James Gillespies High School & George Heriots School, Edinburgh taking this honour. The Development Class champions, Anemoi Racing from St Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith, London were delighted to take victory in this category and win a place at the Aramco 2022 World Finals too. Andrew Denford, Chairman and Founder of F1 in Schools said of this year’s competition, “Every year we see more innovative, more professional, more sophisticated presentations at the National Finals and once again the teams have raised the bar. My congratulations go to SBA Avidity Racing for taking the title; they put tremendous effort into their entry and it is a testament to their determination to succeed that they achieved their victory.
“We’ve seen the cream of young engineering talent at this year’s finals and I’m sure that many of them will consider a career in industry, which makes me very proud. We are already seeing F1 in Schools ‘graduates’ taking roles in the automotive and F1 sectors, as well as using the initiative to stand out from the crowd in their efforts to win university places and, ultimately, positions within industry.” F1 in Schools, now in its 21st year, is the world’s biggest, most exciting student STEM initiative. Researching, designing, making, and racing an F1 car of the future is at the core of F1 in Schools. Teams then race each other head-to-head on the F1 in Schools 20 metre racetrack. The challenge can be used as an education tool or hook to engage students in STEM subjects. This gives students the opportunity to develop key skills such as communication, presenting and teamwork, while forming the foundation for any career path they choose to follow. The F1 in Schools National Final took place with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters. F1 in Schools thanks Autodesk, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UCL Engineering, Alpine F1 Team and PMIEF. Student teams from around the country will be racing for the chequered flag at this year’s F1 in Schools National Finals, hosted at the F1 in Schools headquarters in Brighouse, Yorkshire, with teams joining virtually to compete in this prestigious event. This year, for the first time, the UK champions will not only receive the impressive National Champions trophy and valuable UCL Mechanical Engineering bursaries, each winning team member will also be offered a work placement at Alpine F1 Team. The F1 in Schools teams have been working for many months to design, build and test their miniature F1 car. Putting the finishing touches to their race car liveries, completing the final test runs with their new cars, rehearsing their presentations and proofreading their portfolios, the students have been dedicating every spare minute to the competition. F1 in Schools, now in its 21st year, is the biggest, most exciting student STEM initiative offered to schools. The National Finals will be the culmination of months of effort, with team work and commitment playing a key role for each student team. Between three and six students in each team will have assigned themselves specific roles and worked with their fellow students to produce a Formula 1 race car of the future. An expert panel of judges will not only be looking for a fast car, they will be rewarding innovation, presentation and the approach to the challenge, as well as marketing concepts, sponsorship acquisition, project management and the engineering techniques employed in the design and manufacture of the car. Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools, looks forward to the National Finals saying, “We’re expecting a strong grid of cars this year and although the students will not be able to be with us in person, we will have an immersive and intense two days of judging and racing for them, with plenty of interaction between judges, as well as meeting everyone online via Zoom. A highly professional livestreamed event with host Tom Deacon, from Formula 1’s Esports series, and Lucy Brooks, an alumni of the competition alongside as the competition pundit will anchor the event. The teams will meet Tom and Lucy via Zoom, compete live in reaction racing and complete a series of judging sessions with experts from industry and education. Researching, designing, making and racing an F1 car of the future is at the core of F1 in Schools. Teams then race each other head-to-head on the F1 in Schools 20 metre racetrack. The challenge can be used as an education tool or hook to engage students in STEM subjects. This gives students the opportunity to develop key skills such as communication, presenting and teamwork, while forming the foundation for any career path they choose to follow. The F1 in Schools National Finals take place with the assistance of a host of sponsors and supporters. F1 in Schools thanks Autodesk, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UCL Engineering, Alpine F1 Team and PMIEF. Pirelli has partnered with the new F1 in Schools Primary Class programme to make young people passionate about Formula 1 and the technologies that revolve around the world of Motorsport.
Pirelli is enthusiastic about joining the initiative, providing wheel stickers with the trademarks of its tyres: both the slick models for dry asphalt and the wet versions for wet roads, with the tread design to be applied to the miniature wheels. Formula 1 strongly believes in this programme which targets youths, and has therefore included it among the main initiatives of its programme of social responsibility and fight against diversity and encouraging inclusion. In addition, the activity is included in educational programmes referred to as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to encourage the study of scientific subjects. All the Formula 1 teams in the paddock have joined the project, and they will also be taking part in various presentations and sharing promotional opportunities - as soon as the Covid-19 situation allows it. Formula 1 hopes to showcase at a selection of Grand Prix, or with events at the team premises and with the presence of technicians and drivers. Students from participating schools across the world will be able to take part in their National competitions, with a route aimed at Regional finals and National finals where the season winners will be announced! Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman, F1 in Schools, says of the partnership, “It’s fantastic that Pirelli have joined with us to make sure our F1 in Schools Primary Class cars can be as authentic as possible. All the F1 Teams have shared their race car liveries with us, so having Pirelli branded wheels, and even the tyre tread, makes the finished car even more realistic”. The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge, a leading, multi-discipline, not-for-profit, global education programme, is delighted to announce a new partnership with PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF) to educate F1 in Schools' participants and stakeholders in project management fundamentals. PMIEF will provide a grant for training, coaching, and educational resources so youth and not-for-profit staff who deliver the Challenge worldwide develop project management skills and apply those lessons learned to the Challenge as well as to academic and professional pursuits. PMIEF will collaborate with F1 in Schools to integrate project management into the Challenge so participants strengthen their understanding of concepts like project scope and risk mitigation as they leverage studies in physics, manufacturing, and marketing and branding for an imaginative contest that requires they design the fastest miniature, compressed air-powered racecar. As a result, F1 in Schools will introduce a project management module into the regulations and judging sessions associated with the Challenge beginning in the 2020-21 school year. In addition, PMIEF will provide expert project management training and coaching at no cost to F1 in Schools staff and associates who operate the Challenge in 51 countries. The partnership with F1 in Schools aligns with PMIEF's focus on youth-serving nonprofits and efforts to both build their capacity and enhance their youth programmes through a myriad of products and services. These include grants, training and coaching, educational materials, and access to a volunteer corps. The organisations with which PMIEF collaborates must deliver programs to youth ages to 5 to 19 in at least two countries, support the foundation's research activities, and offer opportunities for project managers who wish to serve as volunteers. Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman F1 in Schools, says of the association with PMIEF, “We’re delighted to welcome PMIEF as a partner of F1 in Schools and look forward to a long and successful relationship. Project management is fundamental in our Challenge, as the students have limited time and resources for taking their F1 in Schools entry from concept to reality and I’m sure that PMIEF will be able to assist our students with this process. The scope of the partnership allows us to extend the learning and training to F1 in Schools staff and our In-Country Co-ordinators (ICCs) who deliver the programme internationally, and I am sure there will be enormous benefit to both individuals and F1 in Schools to have this opportunity.” "Our partnership with F1 in Schools supports its professionals to learn project management and, in turn, to transfer that knowledge to young people by thoughtfully integrating it into this globally-renowned Challenge," says Jeannette Barr, PMIEF Executive Director. "The organization already appreciates the value of having youth learn through a highly experiential Challenge, so we are confident this collaboration will only enrich their participation in this exciting, project-oriented competition." The F1 in Schools programme operates with the support of a host of partners including The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Formula One Group, Autodesk, FIA, Denford, Airbus, Lenovo, UCL Engineering , City, University of London and University of Huddersfield. The experience of a lifetime awaits five UK F1 in Schools World Finals 2019 teams in Abu Dhabi11/20/2019 Seeing your own design of miniature F1 car race to the finish line in around one second, overcoming nerves to present your work to expert judges, enjoying the special bond of an elite team, making new friends for life, experiencing an awards ceremony on the actual Formula 1 track at Yas Marina Circuit – sounds impossible, but not for this year’s F1 in Schools World Finals supported by ADNOC teams.
Five student teams will represent the UK at the event. Evolve UK, a team of three 17 and 18-year-old boys from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Faversham and Aflex Hose Centurion Racing, four 16 to 18 year old boys and girls from Rishworth School, Halifax will represent the UK; Avidity Racing, six 15 to 17-year-old boys and girls from Scarborough UTC will represent England. Two teams will represent Wales at this prestigious event, Infinity Racing from St. Johns College, Cardiff, one of the youngest teams to travel to the UAE, is a team of five boys and one girl, aged 13 – 14 and Quantum from Denbigh High School is three girls and one boy, aged 14 – 15. The F1 in Schools World Finals 2019 supported by ADNOC takes place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi from 24 – 27 November alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and will feature 55 teams representing 22 countries competing over four days for the prestigious F1 in Schools World Champions 2019 title. Over 500 students, teachers, parents, sponsors and supporters, will travel from around the world to compete at the highest level of this highly acclaimed global STEM competition, an education programme that inspires and nurtures young talent to realise their ambitions. The multi-faceted STEM competition embraces enterprise, design, engineering, marketing and teamwork. Formula 1 is at the heart of the initiative, with students forming F1 teams in miniature to design, make, test and race an F1 in Schools car, competing regionally and nationally, with the best teams winning a place at the F1in Schools World Finals 2019. The stakes are high too, with City, University of London, UCL Mechanical Engineering and University of Huddersfield scholarships on offer to the World Champions, as well as the prized F1 in Schools World Champions trophy and a VIP experience at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Evolve UK, say of competing, “As a team we have gained so much from taking part in this STEM competition and we wanted to start projects that encourage more young people to get involved in engineering. We chose our name Evolve to match our ethos of "Evolving a future generation of engineers." Aflex Hose Centurion Racing, comment, “We are particularly looking forward to two things: racing our new car against the best in the world and meeting some of the teams that we have been in touch with through social media. We’re sparky, driven and focussed on our destination. Avidity Racing say, “The opportunity to break barriers and set the standards for next year’s competitors are just two of the values of F1 in Schools. We have all learnt confidence skills and speaking abilities however we have all learnt our own specialist areas as well. Infinity Racing, say of their team, “Our team is multi-cultured, with different and unique team members that all bring their skills forward. On top of this we are a group of enthusiastic, determined and young children that look forward to the great possibilities in our future careers!" Quantum say “We have improved our skill set in STEM through doing this competition and expanded our knowledge of the real life engineering world and the career paths inside this industry. Our team is unique from other teams because of our new innovative designs and our use of futuristic technology which is a key element to team Quantum. We as a team are looking forward to meeting new teams from all around the world all skilled in STEM.” The competition days of this year’s World Finals will be staged at du Forum on Yas Island, with the Awards Celebration Ceremony rewarding all the team’s efforts at a unique event that will be on the Yas Marina Circuit track at Turn 1, with the students joined by personalities and representatives from the Formula 1 teams, Yas Marina Circuit and title partner, ADNOC. The competition features verbal presentations, portfolio, pit display, marketing and engineering judging sessions, as well as the intense pressure of the 20 metre F1 in Schools track racing, For 25 students, there will be the added challenge of the Unilever Williams Engineering Academy Assessment Centre and the chance to win a coveted place in the Academy, that takes its students exclusively from the F1 in Schools World Finals event each year. A total of 22 awards will be presented at the finale, rewarding the outstanding achievements of the F1 in Schools 2019 World Finals teams, the future Engineers and professionals of the Formula 1 industry. The F1 in Schools World Finals 2019 is held with the support of a host of sponsors including Formula 1, ADNOC, Yas Marina Circuit, Denford, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, Autodesk, Etihad, FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, UCL Engineering , City, University of London, University of Huddersfield and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau. |