Young engineers of the future take on transport task

Ten all-girl teams from several primary schools were tasked with constructing an eco-friendly train for a new bridge link from Gunwharf Quays to Gosport.

The challenge, which was held at Portsmouth High School, included designing the branding for the travel company, as well as a vehicle carriage to run on a test track.

Graeme Field, assistant head and head of design and technology at Portsmouth High School said: ‘This was a fabulous opportunity for Year 5 and 6 girls from local junior schools to compete together to solve a real-life challenge.

‘They were set a difficult task to design the monorail train and to think about how their rail company would be promoted.’

Pupils from Gomer Juniors, Hambledon Primary, Mengham Juniors, Northern Parade Juniors, St Swithun’s Primary and Oakwood School took part.

Hambledon Primary pupil Isobel Hughes, 10, said: ‘The drawing and designing have been so much fun.’

The teams were required to pitch their sustainable transport systems to David Hill, technology faculty outreach co-ordinator from the University of Portsmouth.

‘A day like today is vital to get young people interested in a career in engineering,’ Mr Hill said.

‘Only nine per cent of engineers are women so I am so glad to have come today to have judged the girls’ excellent designs and hopefully we have some budding engineers here for the future.’

In the end, the girls from Gomer Junior School in Gosport fought off tough competition to win with the presentation of their Gosmouth Techtrain design.

Lily Shearn, nine, from the winning team said: ‘It’s been a great day and we have worked well together.

‘Working as a team gives us more ideas which we can jumble up to make one giant, good idea.’