News F1 in Schools Competition 07.03.2024
Eleven Godolphin and Latymer students recently competed in the F1 in Schools Regional Final event in Bristol.
F1 in Schools tasks students with designing and manufacturing a miniature car in teams of three to six. It provides students with an insight into an array of careers and subject areas – from marketing and sponsorship to financial management, alongside teaching technical skills such as how to use CAD (computer aided design) software and CNC (computer numerical controlled) machines.
Having started working on the project back in October, the girls (working as two separate groups) used various computer-aided manufacturing techniques, in association with our own Technology department and the engineering department at University College London, to design and produce a model Formula One car of the future. They have also had to come up with and develop and team identity and branding which, through marketing and networking they have used to attract sponsorship and funding, building connections and relationships with real world brands and companies.
At the event itself the teams did brilliantly, presenting their work to judges in various formats. They had to produce pit displays, detailed portfolios outlining their enterprise and engineering methods and outcomes, and do a verbal presentation. With all that done they then got to race their models against the competition, using compressed gas canisters to fire there models along the 10m track, reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour!
Our racing teams did wonderfully well, with one group placing 3rd overall in their class. We also brought home awards for the best portfolio across all classes, and the best engineered car in class. All this made even more impressive by the fact that it was the school’s first time taking part in the competition.
We are very proud of their achievements, and hopefully next year we can go for gold!