Crane-building challenge inspires Cambridgeshire students

The crane is one of five built in just 2 hours by GCSE students from The Neale-Wade Community College and Cromwell Community College. The students are taking part in an engineering Subject Taster day organised by the University of Cambridge and hosted by Metalcraft in Chatteris.

The crane’s designers hold their breath. It sways slightly as one of the struts buckles, then settles, ready for more.

“It’s broken when we say it’s broken,” says Maria Kettle, who has come from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering to oversee the crane-building challenge. Along with Matt Diston, who co-ordinates the University’s HE Partnership programme, she has been offering advice on design and construction as the five teams race to build cranes out of A4 paper, masking tape and bolts.

HE Partnership is a new initiative developed by the University of Cambridge to continue the University’s work with local schools which was previously done under the Government’s AimHigher programme.    Through the HE Partnership programme, the University of Cambridge targets 18 schools in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to encourage local teenagers to make the most of their academic abilities.

The Engineering Taster Day includes the crane-building challenge, a talk by Paul Beeson, Continuous Improvement Manager at Metalcraft, on the opportunities available at the company, and a tour of the Metalcraft factory floor.

Metalcraft manufactures equipment for some of the world’s most challenging environments, including nuclear submarines, MRI scanners, and astronomical observatories. “Very few people can do what we do,” Paul told the visiting students, before explaining about the apprenticeship and training schemes through which the company develops its highly-skilled workforce.  Paul also awarded a prize to the builders of the winning crane, Lewis, Lewis and Jack from the Neal-Wade Community College.

Clare Halstead brings a team from The Neal-Wade Community College to the Taster Day every year. “My students benefit because they get to see a real work environment and meet people at all levels of the engineering industry, from apprentices to academics,” she says. “This event is part of helping them to make good choices about their futures – university, if that’s their goal, or a good job with further training.”

“The engineering profession is short of skilled staff at every level,” explains Maria. ”An event like this enthuses the academically able and motivates them for sixth form studies and university. For more practical students, the local apprenticeship opportunities are made clear. This helps them to achieve their full potential at GCSE.”

Daniel, 15, from Cromwell Community College, agrees. “Today has opened my eyes as to how many jobs are available in engineering – not just manual roles but also jobs which use maths and scientific skills. It’s helped me think about how what I do at school will shape my career.”

“Events such as this are hugely valuable to young people as it gives them an opportunity to connect what they do at school with the real world,” says Matt. “Encouraging students, even in year ten, to start considering their opportunities for training and future careers is vital in supporting them in reaching their potential.”

“It is our hope that through events such as this, we can contribute to young peoples’ education with information and experiences that get them thinking about a far wider range of possible future options that they may not have realised by themselves,” he added.

For more information about the University of Cambridge's access and widening participation work, visit: /study-at-cambridge