On 15th and 16th May, 96 year 5 pupils at Uplands Junior School faced up to the Rotary Junior Technology Challenge with the Rotary club of The City of Wolverhampton over 2 exciting days when we were delighted to make our annual return visit. We were pleased to be joined this time by volunteers from the Global Diabetes Initiatives UK who came along to help, organised by club member Rotarian Matilda Chongwa.

The challenge was for the youngsters to build a bridge to allow a squirrel to cross without being blown off in a gale – with the gale being created by the use of a hairdryer, accompanied by much laughter from all concerned. The challenge takes the form of guidance as part of a STEM (science technology and mathematics) briefing during which the pupils learned in a light-hearted way, what it means to be an engineer.

The pupils had divided themselves into teams of 4, giving themselves a variety of fun names such as ‘chicken jockey’ and’ the ‘4 amigos.’ At the end of each day, the teams ‘cookie crumble’ and ‘doughnuts ‘were judged to be the worthy winners of the book token prizes, having best met the criteria and shown the greatest team working spirit.

In thanking the Rotarians and volunteers headteacher Mrs. Suzanne Webster-Smith said “It was great to see all the children engaged and showing great teamwork throughout the 2 days.”

PDG Richard Green.