SCHOOL pupils across Bradford have been tasked with building and racing their own electric kit cars, thanks to an innovative new education partnership.
Bradford College is supporting the charity Greenpower Education Trust to launch the first Formula 24 Challenge in West Yorkshire. The project will give local 11 to 16-year-olds the chance to build and race a Greenpower kit car using a donated frame and components.
Single-seater kit cars were delivered to nine Bradford secondary schools this week, including Oastlers Keighley, Tong Academy, Parkside School, and BBG Academy. Students will now start construction, designing and sourcing the bodywork themselves with an emphasis on eco-friendly materials.
Schools will also receive expert technical coaching and masterclasses from experts such as the Bradford College Motor Vehicle team. When complete, it is hoped that pupils will race the cars in a Formula 24 Grand Prix in Bradford city centre.
Sarah Towan, Vice Principal for Recruitment & Communications at Bradford College, said: “As a leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) training in the city, Bradford College is very excited to support the Greenpower Formula 24 Challenge. This is an exhilarating project for local students, giving them the opportunity to explore design principles and improve planning, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.”
The Formula 24 season runs from April to October, with regional race heats taking place until the end of September. Around 30 events take place across the UK annually. An International Final is then held in October for teams that qualify from across the globe.
Vaughan Curnow, Community and Education Development Manager at Greenpower Education Trust, said:
“The Formula 24 Challenge builds confidence and self-esteem, as well as teaching transferrable skills in marketing, fundraising, design and more. Thanks goes to Bradford College for being so supportive in the rollout of the project. Together, we hope to get even more schools, employers, and sponsors involved to enhance the project further.”
The team is interested in talking to engineering and motor vehicle employers interested in partnering with a local secondary school to design and build the car or sponsoring the Grand Prix event. Contact Sarah Faulkner for more details at S.Faulkner@bradfordcollege.ac.uk or 07776956239.
* For further information visit www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/greenpower
DO you know an ambitious young chef looking to gain new skills? The next Junior MasterChef short course at Bradford College is now recruiting 14 to 16-year-olds for classes running from February 12-16, 10am-2pm.
Held in The Grove Restaurant at the David Hockney Building, the course will teach various cooking and baking techniques from a team of experts. Classes in state-of-the-art kitchen facilities cost only £30. Students will learn essential skills and practices like food hygiene while creating delicious dishes, from chicken goujons to shortbread raspberry towers, and will finish the week preparing a special meal for two guests, demonstrating what they've learnt.
Masterclasses are sponsored by Waltons & Company which will provide participants with a free apron to keep. Find out more and book a place on the Junior MasterChef events page on the College website.
RUNNING every Saturday from now until July 20, the National Saturday Art Club is a free class for all 13 to 16-year-olds who want to explore skills in the creative industries.
The classes run in the Bradford College Lister Building every week from November through to June, where young people learn skills through creative hands-on activities.
Students get the chance to meet new people and there are no exams.
The aim is to focus on a subject participants love, covering Art & Design and Film & Screen.
At the Bradford Art & Design Saturday Art Club, you can explore printmaking, fashion and textiles, photography, as well as digital skills and other artistic practices you may not have tried before.
To join the club, register your interest on the rolling programme via the Saturday Art Club website and select the Bradford College Saturday Art Club that you want to join.
* To find out more, visit the Saturday Art Club website - www.saturday-club.org/join-a-club
IF you are working in IT and looking to progress your career, there's a still chance to enrol on one of the digital and computing courses starting in January at Bradford College.
Training helps those beginning a new IT career path or looking to change careers. Courses are taught in a way that fits around work and family commitments and your employer might be able to fund the place. Digital courses are delivered full and part-time and include HNCs in Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Data Analytics and Computing.
Bradford College also offers free courses (including IT) for anyone who needs a science qualification to access a range of career routes. Funding is available for over 19s who do not hold a Level 3 qualification or have a Level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage/are unemployed. Visit bradfordcollege.ac.uk
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