HS2 Workshop 2023

Pupils took part in a STEM workshop delivered by HS2. The purpose of the day was explore and develop skills needed for careers within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. During the day many different career areas were explored including mechanics, architecture and design, botany, space exploration, construction, engineering, transportation, ecology and sustainability, planning and retail. Pupils learn about the history of the UK rail network and then heard about the plans for HS2 and why a new infrastructure is needed. Pupils leant how fast the trains will travel (225mph) and compared this to aeroplanes and F1 cars. They then designed the outside and floor plans for a railways station of the future. Pupils then looked at tunnels and how they are constructed. They discussed how deep the tunnels would need to be and how air would be delivered into the tunnels. Pupils were then challenged to work as teams to design and build their own tunnels from paper straws and masking tape. Before they started they looked at the properties of the materials and discussed angles and forces. The finished tunnel had to be a certain length and be able to hold a 3kg weight. They also tested them to see if the model train would pass through the tunnel and weighed them to see who had made the lightest structure. We had a fantastic day and were able to practice our 8 skillsbuilder skills which are so valuable to all of our future careers no matter what path we choose.

HS2 Workshop 2023