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Primary pupils design and engineer mini F1 cars

Jenny MullinJersey
News imageBBC There are two children standing either side of a small racing track, getting ready to send their miniature racing cars down. The boy, wearing a red t shirt has the starting trigger in his hand, and a man standing next to him in a white t shirt has his hand on a car, showing him how it works. The other child, a girl in a blue baseball cap and a white t-shirt is watching on, waiting. BBC
Primary school pupils showed off their science, technology, engineering and maths skills during the competition at the Royal Jersey Showground

About 200 pupils aged between nine and 11 have designed and engineered miniature F1 cars as part of a project delivered by STEM Racing UK and Digital Jersey.

The 3D-printed cars were raced down a purpose-built 20m (66ft) track at the Royal Jersey Showground.

The pupils took on different roles within their teams, improving their science and maths skills, and learning about branding and presentation, event bosses said.

Tony Moretta, from Digital Jersey, said: "Can you imagine the jobs that these kids are going to go out and take when they leave school? So, the sooner we get them to understand the importance of technology and business skills, the better."

News imageAn 10 year old girl with brown hair tied back, wearing a red boiler suit with the words Team Leader below her name, Jojo. She is looking straight down the camera and smiling. She has blue and white balloons to one side of her and a purple banner to the other side.
Team leader Jojo "had to put people in their place, but nicely"

Ten-year-old Jojo, from FCJ Primary School, said: "I was a team leader, so I had to put people in their place, but nicely. I had to get people together and decide things.

"And I've learnt that nothing needs to be perfect, except maybe aerodynamics."

The cars were powered down the track by compressed air canisters, triggered by each team's "driver" pressing a button.

News imageA boy with light brown hair, wearing a red t shirt, looking into the camera and smiliing. Behind him there are some children and teachers gathered - around 20 of them- most of them wearing trousers, t shirts and caps. They are huddled together talking. They are in a big space with black walls and silver lighting rigs on the ceiling - the Royal Jersey Showground.
Henry, from St Peter's School, said the event was "really exciting and fun"

Eleven-year-old Henry, from St Peter's Primary School, said: "You learn things for your future. I've learnt about teamwork and science.

"I was the driver so I had to press the button that sends the car down the racing track. I was really nervous but it was really exciting and fun."

STEM Racing came to Jersey secondary schools in 2024, but this was the first year that primary school children had been involved.

Race day last Friday came after five months of hard work involving a design-and-build resource kit, step-by-step tutorials and after-school study sessions.

News imageA long white rectangular table with around 20 small F1 racing cars placed on top in two rows. The cars are around the size of an A4 piece of paper and each car has at least two colours on the bodywork.
Judges awarded teams for speed, branding, teamwork and presentation.

Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, said: "We've got 200 kids. We've got 150 parents. And you've seen the enthusiasm.

"And this is what we need. Because can you imagine the jobs that these kids are going to go out and take when they leave school?

"So, the sooner we get them to understand the importance of technology in terms of business skills, the better."

News imageA headshot of a man wearing a checked white and grey shirt with the top button undone and a black blazer. He is looking into the camera with a black wall behind him and a purple and red banner with a graphic of a car behind him, saying STEM RACING.
Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, which helped to deliver the event alongside STEM Racing UK

Mr Moretta continued: "We don't know what the jobs are going to be in the future and, kids leaving school, they're not going to be doing administration jobs because AI is going to take the load.

"What's great about STEM Racing is it's not just about technology skills. It's about design, it's soft skills, about getting corporate sponsors, it's doing design and logos.

"The judges I've spoken to have been amazed... [at the] quality of the work.

"If their colleagues came up with the same quality, they'd say it was fine. So the children are doing an amazing job."

On the success of the event, Mr Moretta added: "This is the first time we've done primary schools. It's going to be very hard for us not to do it again".

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