Diploma for 14 to 19-year-olds
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1st Feb 2010
Diploma students get off to a racing start in F1 challenge
A group of students from Norwich are gearing up for next year’s F1 in Schools Challenge after a successful debut in the national competition. The pioneering youngsters who formed Team Pluto made the national final of the competition which was held at this year’s Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC. They competed with 30 teams from around the country.
The students from three high schools in the area last month beat off stiff competition to win the Best 
Rookie Team category during a London and south-east regional heat held at the headquarters of the Williams F1 team in Oxfordshire. The Open Opportunity consortium consisted of three students from Notre Dame High School, one from The Hewett School and one from Wayland Community High School.
Rookie Team category during a London and south-east regional heat held at the headquarters of the Williams F1 team in Oxfordshire. The Open Opportunity consortium consisted of three students from Notre Dame High School, one from The Hewett School and one from Wayland Community High School.The students entered the competition as part of their studies for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD), which designed to give 14 to 19-year-olds skills, knowledge and understanding of the manufacturing sector. The F1 in Schools Challenge combines elements of design, engineering, science, marketing and technology.
As part of their project, the students spent time at Norfolk County Council’s Hethel Engineering Centre, based near sports car manufacturer Lotus.
Julian McKay, a teacher at Notre Dame High School, which is one of the three delivering the Diploma, believes team’s success was a great boost to their studies. He said: “It was the first time we entered a team into this competition, and I must say they have been outstanding. They thought it was a fantastic experience and are already talking about what they can do next. We are hoping to build on this success next year.”
The Diploma in MPD has been developed to sit alongside traditional academic qualifications such as GCSEs and A-Levels. The qualification is being delivered by consortia of local schools, colleges and employers, allowing students to divide their time between classroom, college and real work environments.
Championed by some of the country’s leading manufacturing employers, the Diploma in MPD has been designed to equip young people with the skills and knowledge required by future employers.
The F1 Challenge was founded more than 10 years ago to give students aged nine to 19 a fun and exciting way of learning about science and technology in the high octane world of F1.
The regional finals were judged on speed, together with supporting evidence of design, a verbal presentation and a marketing display stand in the pits.
The 14 and 15-year-olds making up Team Pluto designed their racers using Computer Aided Design, before they aerodynamically tested their car. They then manufactured it with the help of Computer Aided Manufacture. Their entry reached speeds of up to 60kph.
Team Pluto showed off its winning entry at the National Finals during the Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham.
For more information, visit the website for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, at http://www.manufacturingdiploma.co.uk/.
Issued on behalf of the Manufacturing Diploma Development Partnership, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email Richard.Stirling@nexnet.co.ukpaul.newham@nexnet.co.uk.