Our Year 7 students recently took part in an exciting STEM Day challenge, delivered by members of the British Army, putting their creativity, teamwork and engineering skills to the test!

Working in teams of 5 or 6, students were challenged to build the tallest freestanding tower possible using giant Meccano-style construction sets. With just 45 minutes to plan, design and construct their towers, teams had to think carefully about how to make their structures both tall and stable.

The challenge encouraged students to put their problem-solving skills into action, experimenting with different designs, considering how to strengthen their structures and working together to overcome engineering difficulties along the way. They quickly discovered that building the tallest tower wasn't simply about using the most pieces – it was about understanding stability, balance and structural design!

Throughout the session, the Army instructors encouraged students to communicate effectively, share ideas and work collaboratively as a team. There was plenty of creativity, determination and friendly competition as each group worked towards achieving their goal.

The STEM Day was a fantastic opportunity for Year 7 to experience some of the challenges faced by engineers, while also developing valuable skills in communication, collaboration, resilience and problem-solving. It was also a great opportunity to learn from members of the Army and see how teamwork and practical problem-solving are important beyond the classroom.

A huge thank you to the Army for delivering such an engaging and enjoyable session, and well done to all our Year 7 students for their enthusiasm and fantastic teamwork!