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Participating Schools Briefing Pack

Contents

1.  Introduction to the Faraday Challenge

An introduction to the nature of the IET Faraday Challenge Days and the benefits to both students and their schools.

2.  Responsibilities of the Participating Schools

In preparation for and during the Faraday Challenge Day

3.  Schedule for the Faraday Challenge Day

A breakdown of the timings for the day

4.  Risk Assessment

An outline risk assessment specific to the delivery of the Faraday Challenge

1.  Introduction to the Faraday Challenge Days

The IET Faraday Challenge Days are held at schools, and other venues around the UK and have proved to be enormously popular with teachers and students alike. The IET is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. As a charity we are committed to the advancement of science, engineering and technology and to encouraging young people to study the STEM subjects and consider careers within the engineering and technology sectors. We provide a wide range of activities, classroom materials and other learning resources, including the IET Faraday Challenge Days, at no charge to UK schools.

The Faraday Challenge Days give students the opportunity to research, design and make solutions to genuinely tough engineering problems. The event will be set up and run by our team of STEM professionals to give you the time to focus on your students.

Taking Part

There will be a total of 154 in-school IET Faraday Challenge Days taking place between October 2016 and June 2017, with an additional 12 days at venues of our Academic Partner Universities plus a number of sponsored events at partner organisations. Each IET Faraday Challenge Day involves six school teams, each made up of six 12-13 year olds (England and Wales Year 8, Scotland S2, Northern Ireland Year 9), ideally students who are interested in either Science, Design & Technology, Mathematics or Engineering.

All teams and staff taking part are required to bring a packed lunch to the IET Faraday Challenge Day. Students are required to wear school uniform on the day and to each bring a pencil case.

The Challenge is all about letting the students be creative and use their own problem solving skills to explore their capabilities as engineers. Teachers are not able to assist their teams during the event but are responsible for the discipline and safe working of their students. We encourage the teachers to make up their own team on the day and participate in the event, although, sadly, you cannot win on the day. There will be a teachers’ league table on the IET Faraday website so you can check out your score against other teacher teams.

The winners of each event will be awarded a prize for each team member and a trophy for their school. The top teams from across the UK will be invited to showcase their ideas at an event at the end of the season.

We hope you enjoy the Faraday Challenge Day. On the day, all participating teachers and students will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their experience of the day. The IET Faraday Team would appreciate your feedback so that we can make the programme even better! If you have any further questions or queries please contact our IET Faraday team via email at .

By taking part in a Faraday Challenge Day, your students will meet all of the criteria for achieving a CREST Discovery Award. Entering students is a brilliant way for them to get the most out of their project. CREST Awards is the British Science Association’s flagship programme for young people. It is the only nationally recognised accreditation scheme for project work in STEM subjects and is widely recognised as a mark of high quality in STEM project work. To gain your CREST Awards simply register online for a CREST account and follow the steps at https://my.crestawards.org/

If you are interested in running your own DIY Faraday Challenge Day then visit www.ietfaraday.org/diy-challenge for more information and free resources. There are currently 7 challenges to choose from which get students using key STEM skills and knowledge and also encourage the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills.

2.  Responsibilities of the Participating School

§  Ensure that you, your students and your school are aware of the Faraday Challenge timetable as this may differ from the ordinary school timetable and cannot be changed on the day.

§  Organise a team from your own school of six students, aged 12-13 years old, to take part in the Faraday Challenge Day – ideally made up of students who are interested in either Science, Design & Technology, Mathematics or Engineering; an even number of boys and girls where possible.

§  Inform the Host University if for any reason your school can no longer attend the IET Faraday Challenge Day.

§  Provide a member of staff to accompany the students on the day. Teachers are not able to assist their teams during the event but will be encouraged to form their own team and participate in the Challenge. Teachers are responsible for the discipline and safe working of their students. The IET may charge schools for breakages which result from unsafe or inappropriate behavior.

§  Ensure that the participating students:

§  bring a packed lunch to the Faraday Challenge Day

§  wear school uniform on the day

§  bring a pencil case.

3. Schedule for the day

08:00 / Challenge Day Leader arrives – assistance required to unload kit and set up audio for presentation
09:00 / Engineering teams arrive at University
09:15 / Teams to tables to register their team
09:30 / Welcome and introduction
09:45 / Project brief: Introduction to the Faraday Challenge
10:05 / Planning: Identifying the problems and generating initial ideas
10.25 / Team role selection: team decides on which roles they need
10:30 / Engineering apprenticeship: teams complete a short engineering task
10:45 / Development
§  Shop opens
§  Agree on final product designs
11:10 / Break
11:20 / Development continues
§  Continue to design and modify where necessary
12:10 / Project and/or marketing managers are briefed on the content of the presentation
12:30 / Lunch – Tools down
13:00 / Development: Final preparations
§  Finalise product
§  Prepare presentation with notes
13:30 / §  Shop closes
§  Submit accounting sheet to the Shop keeper
§  Practise presentation
14:00 / Presentation
·  Teams present their designs to the judge(s)
14:45 / Award ceremony with final feedback and evaluation of the day
15:00 / Finish - Engineering teams depart, Challenge Day Leader packs away kit.
15:45 / Challenge Day Leader departs

4. Risk Assessment

The following risk assessment is given as guidance. It is advised that the school refers to the CLEAPSS Model Risk Assessment Documents for D&T.

Risk Assessment and Operating Procedure - IET
Activity: Faraday Challenge Days 2017-18
Persons at risk / Students taking part in the Faraday Challenge Day and adults in the location
Maximum Group Size / 36 students / Recommended Staffing/Student Ratio / 1:6
Risk Assessment
Hazards / Control Measures
1.  Use of electrical equipment – risk of electric shock / All electrical equipment is low voltage.
2.  Use of electrical equipment – short circuit causing heating / Warn students of the possibility of burns when connecting and disconnecting components. All pupils will receive a briefing about correct use of electrical components.
3.  Basic use of hand tools (craft knives, screwdrivers, scissors, hole punches, staplers) – risk of cutting or abrasion / Warn students of the risks and advise them of safe working practices.
4.  Use of water with moisture sensors / Ensure students test their moisture sensor using the sponge in a box provided rather than directly in any drink or cup of water to avoid spillage on electrical components.
Location issues (to be completed by Host School)
Further Action Required: 1. Ensure all persons staffing the Faraday Challenge Days are aware of and competent to comply with this risk assessment and the control measures.

Risk Assessment (page 2)

Working Practice
Group structure / One Faraday Challenge Day Leader and one member of staff from the host University to be present during the whole day to oversee use of equipment and to keep order. Teachers bringing groups from other schools must remain in the room and be responsible for their own students.
Restrictions / Unknown premises.
Emergency
Procedure / Follow the lead from the Host School.
Faraday Challenge Day Leader to be fully briefed on risk assessment procedure prior to the day or on arrival.
Safeguarding / The Challenge Leader will carry their DBS and provide it where requested. They will comply with the safeguarding regulations within the school. A representative from the school MUST be present in the rooms at all times when students are present.
Safety Equipment / First aid kit and fire extinguisher (electrical fires) to be provided by Host University.
Name and role of IET Faraday Challenge representative / Keira Sewell
Challenge Day Leader.
Name and role of school representative
Signature of the school representative
Date of this Review / September 2017