The pupils from Oaklands School, Waterlooville, are sharpening their skills by designing a scale-model solar array for a satellite, which will follow the sun around the sky.

The team of four is competing against nine other schools in Hampshire on the science design project, which is every bit as testing as a real-life engineering work - they must design blueprints, build a working model and submit a 10,000 word report by April.

The teams are being helped by Portsmouth space giant Eads Astrium throughout the six-month project, with input from Mark Butler from the Secure Satcom Systems division.

Matt Marinaccio, 16, said: 'It's challenging but that's why we selected the project. We're working on it constantly, and we find plenty of time during our lunchtimes.'

Stephanie Beaumont, also 16, said: 'I think we get a lot of skills about electronics and skills about working together as a team. I decided to volunteer because it's a good scheme to take and show to people in interviews.

'I think a few of us are thinking about engineering at university or something science and maths-based. It gives us an idea of what engineering is like.'

The project, running nationwide, is called the Engineering Education Scheme, and is run by engineering promotion charity EDT as a way of firing the imaginations of youngsters about the job opportunities available in the sector.

The final, in April 2010, will see all competing teams brought together at either HMS Sultan or HMS Collingwood and judged on their projects.

They will all be given marks which will be averaged across the teams, to let them find out how much higher - or lower - than the average their work ranks and what they can do to improve it.

Mr Butler said: 'It gives them an understanding of exactly what real engineering is about. This programme gives them exposure to a real engineering company environment - taking a problem and providing a solution. But as well as the engineering, they also manage their own time and roles. It's all valuable.'

Niko Nicolasora, 17, said: 'I've learned a lot of things and made some new friends. We've still got plenty to do and we're just on our way to building it up. We're quite a good team and everyone works hard.'