Ogden Grand Prix

The aim of the project is to give sustainable help with the delivery of science to primary feeders by providing equipment and staffing to give pupils hands-on experience of science experiments. 

After consultations with the five primary schools involved, the first topic selected was ‘Forces and Friction’ for year 6 pupils, with a brief that the work should complement KS2 rather than try and deliver it. They wanted the pupils to be able to handle force meters and friction ramps, and in particular to have experience of using data loggers. The project was based on each team assembling and testing a model car.

From these ideas a 3-week cycle of experiments was produced, each weekly session lasting 1.5-2 hours and involving:

  • Use of force meters, estimating then measuring weights, measuring pulling forces
  • Measurement of friction on different surfaces and at different angles, speed of the cars down slopes with different surfaces
  • Competition to build the fastest car, use of data loggers to measure and record speeds

A kit was chosen to be portable, robust and self contained, and Trinity School ordered apparatus which looked appealing and which could be kept packed into boxes for ease of transport and speed of organisation on arrival. 

Trinity School also engaged a sixth form student hoping to train as a primary teacher and the project gave her an opportunity to gain some valuable experience by assisting in the delivery of the sessions. This proved a great success for both sides; the pupils enjoyed the opportunity to ask her about life at Trinity and she discovered skills that she didn’t know she had – dealing confidently with a variety of children. She subsequently applied for primary teacher training courses with science as her specialism and found the experience very helpful in her university interviews.

The project was later joined by a chemistry undergraduate from Nottingham University under the Ambassador scheme developed by CELS

Contact Details: The Trinity School Nottingham, Margaret Cobb, Peter Dowsett, Steve Manderson, steve.manderson@gmail.com