2013-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Challenge, which gets underway the week commencing the 9th of September, is designed to develop pupils’ creativity, teach them basic construction concepts and introduce them at an early age to careers in construction and engineering. It is run each year by Heathrow, in the five boroughs surrounding the airport; Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Slough and Spelthorne. This year – the seventh the Challenge has been running – a record fifty one schools and over 3,300 pupils will be taking part.
The Challenge takes place over the course of a morning with around fifty 10-11 year olds. Jeremy King, Chartered Civil Engineer and school activity provider, runs the session – aided by Heathrow staff volunteers. Pupils are first given a curriculum-based introduction to 3-D shapes and the basic rules and laws of engineering. They are then challenged to work in teams of six to use this knowledge to design and build (using newspaper sticks they make themselves) a ‘terminal’ large enough to fit the whole team inside. Creativity and team working is encouraged throughout.
Jeremy King says: ‘Each year I am overwhelmed by the creativity of the students and their innovative designs. Many of these students could be the engineers of the future and it is our responsibility to equip them with the skills and inspiration to make this a reality. The Heathrow Challenge is a great opportunity for the students to practice their future life/work skills such as planning, teamwork and communication.’
Sundeep Sangha, Heathrow’s Economic Development Manager, says: ‘Heathrow makes a huge contribution to local employment, supporting over 100,000 jobs in the surrounding area. We have a responsibility to ensure the workforce of tomorrow is aware of the wide range of career opportunities at the airport and is inspired to strive for them.’
The Heathrow Primary School Challenge began seven years ago in order to broaden local student’s awareness of employment opportunities at Heathrow. Many children in the boroughs surrounding the airport will expect to work there in the future but may not be aware of the full range of careers available, particularly those in engineering, or what they would need to study to be eligible for them. Whilst engineers are critical to the airport’s operations, they are in short supply. Engineering UK* estimates that Britain needs to double the number of recruits into engineering to meet demand. Yet just 20 per cent of 12-16 year olds express any knowledge of what people working in engineering do, and just 3% of all GCSEs taken in 2012 were in physics – a key subject for those wishing to study engineering at university.
Notes to editors
Press days – which will be attended by the local MP and a member of Heathrow’s executive team – are available to attend at the following schools:
- Ealing: 11th September (am); Berrymede Junior School
- Hillingdon: 18th September (am); West Drayton Primary School
- Hounslow: 26th September (am); Alexandra Junior School
- Hounslow: 27th September (am); Westbrook Primary
- Slough: 9th October (am); Cippenham Primary School
- Spelthorne: 16th October (am); Kenyngton Manor County Primary School
The Primary School Challenge is part of Heathrow’s commitment to running the airport responsibly which means enhancing the local, regional and national economic and social benefits of the airport. On a local level this includes offering a range of education and career opportunities that focus on developing knowledge in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects where there is the biggest skills shortage in the country; developing long-term relationship with schools; encouraging our employees to take up voluntary Governor positions; encouraging more parental engagement in careers choices; and retaining our local Top Talent and investing in partnership opportunities with our local universities.
For further information, please contact Chloe Wittet or Jan Singleton in the Heathrow press office on 020 8 745 7224/heathrowmediacentre@heathrow.com
* Engineering UK Report 2013: http://www.engineeringuk.com/_resources/documents/EUK_Executive_Summary_2013_Web.pdf
Contact information
Heathrow Airport media centre
+44 (0)20 8745 7224
media_centre@heathrow.com
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Primary School Challenge- Ashford Church of England School