PTC and Scalextric initiative to drive school children’s interest in science and engineering

Wootton School win Scalextric4schools Challenge.

PTC, the Product Development Company, in partnership with Hornby Hobbies Ltd the makers of Scalextric today announced that Wootton School have won the first UK Scalextric4schools challenge held in Sheffield on Friday 10th July. Launched by motoring expert James May in January of this year, Scalextric4Schools is a partnership between Hornby and PTC with the aim of inspiring students to consider Science and Engineering related subjects for Higher Education and as a future career.

Ten school teams with children aged between 11 and 17, all winners of their regional heats, brought the slot cars they had designed, manufactured and developed over several months to pit against each other for the top spot on the podium. Cars were raced against the clock round a giant Scalextric track, which was provided by Hornby, the owners of the Scalextric brand. Scores from race times and fastest laps combined with assessments by the judges of the design presentations and portfolios decided the UK champions.

Wootton School was the overall winner taking away the winners trophy which was sponsored by Root Solutions Ltd, suppliers of Hornby’s Pro/ENGINEER installation and supporters of the scalextric4schools initiative since its inception. The Wootton team, mostly aged 17 were supported by their technology teacher James Cleave who also happens to be the 2008 World Slot Car Champion. The students were each presented with individual slot cars provided by Hornby and the chance to take part in a TV programme being filmed later this year by TV presenter and life long Scalextric enthusiast James May. The programme will feature the construction of a Scalextric track along the route of the world famous Brooklands circuit in Surrey, UK.

Scalextric sets provided by Hornby were presented to the two runners-up, St Augustine’s High School, Scarborough and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Lincolnshire and for the best-engineered car from an all girl team aged 14 from Sandbach School, Cheshire. The Pro/ENGINEER designer in the team was interviewed by BBC Radio Sheffield and talked with real passion about her ambition to become an engineer.

PTC has developed a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum for the challenge showing students how to design, make and race their own Scalextric racing cars. To help schools update their curriculum, PTC is providing their industry standard 3D parametric design software, Pro/ENGINEER free of charge, including home use by students. Teachers can find out how to get the software at www.cadinschools.org

Hornby supply the standard parts for the cars including: motors, gears, pick-ups, wheels, tyres and axles. They also supply a track for testing. All these components are available at cost price, so that a complete car costs less than £2. Information, downloads and links to purchase parts and track are available on: www.scalextric4schools.org

Hornby and PTC announced at the finals they will be running the event again in 2010 with a sister series in North America. Discussions are also taking place with teacher networks in Australia and the Far East with a view to launching the challenge in those regions soon.

PTC’s 10 year commitment to UK education and its 24 years of industry experience has provided a unique insight into the needs of both UK education and Industry and recognised the importance and effectiveness of project based learning activities, both in and outside the classroom. “Scalextric4Schools has been a great success and we hope it will grow and expand into other regions,” commented Richard Allan, Channel Business Director, PTC.