ENTERPRISING students have continued to build on their winning reputation after claiming a double first in an educational engineering contest.
Northallerton College design technology students defended their title as holders of the annual Rotary Club Engineering Tournament with first places in both the advanced and intermediate team challenge categories.
Students saw their skills put to the test as they worked against the clock to design, build and demonstrate a working suspension bridge, in the national initiative which aims to give young people the opportunity to apply skills they have learned in the classroom to a practical technical challenge.
Two sixth form advanced teams and three Year 10 intermediate teams, in a joint venture with students from The Allertonshire School, Northallerton, had their engineering ability tested in the day-long competition.
Accompanied by teaching assistant Nick Brooker, Allertonshire technology teacher Paul Boland and head of faculty Stephen Marshall, the advanced teams finished in first and second place in their category with one of the three intermediate teams also taking first place.
Wining team leader Oli Nixon, 18, of Northallerton, who led his team of Danielle Baxter, 18, Joe Walker, 18 and Emily Renwick, 18, to victory, said: “We were set the task to build a suspension bridge using card, paper, straws, wood and string which would be capable of holding a 1Kg weight and also rise on both sides.
“The team came up with a variety of ideas, the best of which we used to plan, design and construct our bridge within the time allowed.
“It was very satisfying to be presented with the trophy and have the kudos that goes along with being the overall winners.”
The results were judged by a panel of Rotarians and industrialists with backgrounds in engineering, technology and enterprise from dozens of team entries from schools and colleges across North Yorkshire.
Tom Barley, 15, whose team of Stephen Chapman, 15, Jack Allen, 15 and Callum Johnstone, 15, were presented with the intermediate team trophy, said: “We were set the same challenge as the advanced teams but with a slightly less degree of complexity.
“Although we didn’t feel overly confident going in to the competition we were determined to give it our best shot and I think it was a real team effort that helped us to win.”
Mr Marshall added: “It is excellent to see our students applying the knowledge and understanding of mathematical and scientific principles into a challenging competition such as this.
“It’s wonderful that our current students are continuing to follow in the winning tradition of our design technology department.”
