An engineering specialism within a grammar school
Specialist Engineering Status
Engineering in School
Star chaser, a Manchester based space travel company, visited Ripon Grammar School in the spring term, Star chaser spent one day working with our feeder primary schools and another with our third form students. The junior school pupils learnt about space travel and made small rockets which were then launched on the school playing fields. The third form students made solid fuel powered rockets and considered their movement through space.
A new engineering qualification has been introduced at KS4. The ‘AS’ Engineering qualification is being taken by a group of fourth year students. The course should provide a firm foundation for further study in engineering.
New Engineering suite
In November Ripon Grammar School was proud to unveil a new sculpture designed by Sarah Greenslade, who is studying art in the sixth form. The sculpture is to mark the success of RGS in gaining specialist status in engineering. The sculpture was designed using engineering principles after an annual art trip to Cornwall. Students were asked to design a piece for the school to mark its new status to go on show in the school grounds. The students could either take the work of Russian artist Naum Gabo as inspiration, or design a more traditional piece. Once the final design was chosen, RGS brought in local artist Steve Parker who had the task of creating the piece entirely from recycled metal. The sculpture is sited in a quad, adjacent to the new Mathematics and Technology building.
In the summer term a ‘Sports Science Day’ was held for our first form students. The Biology, Design Technology and PE departments worked closely together to deliver the concept of science in sport including the impact of nutrition on performance.
First Year Sport Sceince Day
The Mathematics department have entered a group of fourth year students for GCSE mathematics a year early. Early entry will enable the students to extend their mathematical studies in the fifth year. The department have also introduced an additional GCSE, Statistics, and the results achieved by the first cohort in August looked promising.
The Drama department is increasing its technical capabilities with engineering funding providing a moving DMX head and hopefully some digital lighting effects.
The Music department has further increased its music technology provision with extra recording equipment and computer keyboards to complement their new suite of Apple Mac computers.
The ‘Greenpower Electric Car Team’ has been invited to make a presentation to the ‘Lean Weight Vehicle Convention’ at Warwick University. The successful team will entertain delegates with a presentation about the ‘Carbon Comet’, their carbon fibre car. They have also been invited to compete in the corporate challenge against industrial cars.
Greenpower Electric Car Team
The mobile electronics teaching workshop arrived at RGS in the summer term and a group of fourth year students were able to visit the ‘bus’ to use the facility. High level electronics in an industrial environment enabled the students to further their knowledge, understanding and skills. It is hoped that this will become an annual event.
Mobile Electronics Unit
Stuart Wallace was awarded an Arkwright Scholarship after passing a national exam and undertaking a series of interviews. The scholarship is awarded to able students who show promise in Engineering related subjects as an incentive to go further and explore Engineering as a career choice.
