WMG at the University of Warwick will be lending a hand to budding young engineers from The Richard Crosse C of E Primary School in Kings Bromley, Staffordshire, in their quest to build and race their very own electric kit car.
Class five at Richard Crosse won a competition run by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to become one of eight schools presented with a Greenpower Goblin kit car.
Each winning school is partnered with an APC Spoke - in this case WMG, who will offer guidance and support to the students.
The children, aged 9-11, have been given an electric kit car to design, build and race - guided by their teachers and WMG mentors. Once complete, the children will compete against each other in a regional Greenpower IET Formula Goblin race in summer 2018.
Formula Goblin has been set up with help from the Greenpower Education Trust to address the skills gap that is growing in the UK automotive industry by engaging students in engineering at a young age. It is designed to engage students with maths, science and design technology in a fun way, promoting equality regardless of economic background and gender.
Dr Antony Allen from WMG said: "The children worked really hard on their competition entry. They reviewed real-world problems with current transport and the links to climate change and poor air quality from our existing vehicles, before proposing a wide variety of solutions for sustainable mobility in 2050 and beyond. I’m really looking forward to working with the staff and pupils at Richard Crosse as they build and race their car."
Paul Lovern, Executive Headteacher at Richard Crosse Primary School, said: "I am thrilled that our school has been chosen to take part in Formula Goblin. The children and staff are extremely excited to take part and can’t wait to get building. We are looking forward to developing the children’s engineering skills and creating budding engineers of the future. A huge thanks to all involved and a special thank you to WMG."
APC Chief Executive, Ian Constance, said: "Promoting a career in engineering is hugely important in ensuring that the UK has the capability and capacity to continue to be innovative. This will provide an inspirational and hands on experience for children aged 9-11 to develop their understanding and interests in low carbon engineering."
The initiative is supported by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, the APC and the APC Spoke Community, made up of six of the UK’s leading universities each focussing on R&D of key technology areas in the automotive industry.
The APC and Spokes, including WMG, will provide financial support and mentoring throughout the electric vehicle build along with driver training ahead of the race.
Young engineers build own electric kit car with WMG
