CHS F1 in Schools Teams Take Pole Position for Nationals
It’s a double victory for CHS Unity and CHS Pulse. The teams have blown the competition away and are speeding towards the National Finals in March!
Our talented Waconians have proven they’re not just book smart; they’re race smart too. The F1 in Schools competition isn’t just about tiny cars – it’s a fantastic challenge where students design, build, and race miniature Formula 1 cars, gaining invaluable skills in engineering, project management, and teamwork along the way. It’s exactly the kind of hands-on experience that prepares pupils for success in the 21st century, and we are thrilled to support this project as one of our many extracurricular activities that ignite creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.
CHS Unity, a team of Year 10 pupils competing in the Development Class, achieved an incredible first-place victory. Their work on design and engineering was recognized with the “Best Engineered Car” award. The team also received nominations for the Pit Display and Research & Development awards. The team’s ethos, reflected in their name Unity, ties in with a number of our Waconian values, significantly compassion and contribution. In the lead up to the competition the team focused on community-building, hosting a lunch for local residents and setting up a pop-up craft club for pupils in school.
The judges commended CHS Unity’s theme of togetherness and combating loneliness, highlighting their appreciation for these initiatives. This success resonated throughout the school, Oliver, Team Manager of Unity expressing the collective joy of the team:
“It was incredible to win the Regionals with CHS Unity. We had all put so much work into the competition, both the team and Mr Tulloch, who kindly supervised us outside of school hours on a regular basis. This made winning all the more rewarding!”
In the Professional Class, CHS Pulse, a team of Year 12 students, secured a strong second-place finish. Their portfolio and track performance led to a nomination for the Portfolio Award. The team’s focus for the competition was on achieving High Performance but with minimal environmental impact, reflected in their collaboration with companies including Beaumont Organic.
Team Manager Lucien expressed his pride:
“A well-deserved win for the team; I was so proud of what each team member achieved from their hard work. I speak on behalf of CHS Pulse when I say we’re super excited for regionals and are aiming for even more success.”
DT Technician Mr Tulloch, who has provided invaluable support to our teams, shared his thoughts on their performance:
“We should be very proud of both teams as they have pulled out all the stops to produce two of the best team entries we have seen in the seven years of CHS competing in F1 in Schools. We are really looking forward to seeing what they do on the big stage at the National Finals.”
Well done CHSunity and CHSpulse! Their achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication. The entire CHS community will be cheering them on at the National Finals in March as they represent our School on a national stage in Rotherham on 26 and 27 March.
Our team’s F1 in Schools journey wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of their sponsors, The Pilot Group, Running Paper, Chris Ingram – Rally Warrior, Beaumont Organic, Diagnostic Associates and The Hive Health Centre. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and belief in our students. Their contributions have been instrumental in getting our teams to this stage of the competition.
As our teams prepare to race towards the National Finals, we’re also excited to offer other businesses the chance to support our aspiring engineers and become part of their success. If your company is interested, please contact er@chschool.co.uk to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
