Pupils took part in an engineering challenge that saw them design and build hand-launched gliders.
The Midlands Flying Start Challenge (FSC), in its second year, was organised by graduates and apprentices from Roxel UK for pupils at St Barnabas CE First and Middle School.
The initiative, which has been running for over 20 years, aims to inspire students aged 11 to 14 to explore flight and aerospace.
Five pairs and one team of three pupils participated in a series of workshops, working together to create gliders capable of carrying a payload over long distances.
Kidderminster-based Roxel’s team of mentors guided the students through five interactive sessions, teaching them the principles of flight and key concepts in engineering design.
The students were also given insight into Roxel’s work.
Using materials such as polyester and cardboard, the teams were encouraged to experiment, problem-solve, and make informed decisions to improve their gliders’ performance.
The programme ended with a regional visit to Roxel, where one team achieved a flight distance of seven metres.
The Flying Start Challenge, initially run by aerospace engineering companies within the south west of England, now proceeds through local regional finals for the Midlands, Bristol, Gloucester, and Yeovil regions, culminating in a grand final in Bristol.
Students design, build, and test a hand-propelled model glider, creating presentations that explain the engineering decisions they made during their glider build.
Jo Geary, a teacher from St Barnabas, praised the project for its hands-on approach to learning about flight and aerodynamics.
She said: “The Flying Start Challenge has been an amazing opportunity for my Year 7 pupils to learn about flight and aerodynamics – it was great to see them putting this learning into practice when designing and making their own hand-held gliders in the workshops run by members of the Roxel team in school.
“It was a fantastic and memorable experience that combined creativity, teamwork, and STEM learning in a fun and engaging way.”
Jason Wright, Roxel UK graduate and Flying Start Challenge project coordinator, praised the volunteers and committee at Roxel who supported the programme behind the scenes.
He said: “It was a fantastic team effort, and we thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the pupils and introducing them to the exciting world of flight and engineering.”
