Extended Learning

This is a new Technology Club where the aim is to design, make and sell items to raise money for charity. Students have the opportunity to develop a product from start to finish, including the manufacture, advertising and sale of the product.

The club members have so far completed work for another school to help share equipment, knowledge and resources. They have also designed a keyring to raise money for some of our house charities. They have looked at the cost implications and are starting to manufacture and advertise the keyrings.

Please look out for the poster, as the keyrings will be on sale soon. We hope to raise at least £100 for Essex Air Ambulance and Jay’s Hospice. If you are interested in joining the club come along after school, 3.20-4.20 on Wednesdays

Young Engineers news...

The Young Engineers club continues to build on its previous success by reaching the National Finals once again.  Josh Smith, a year 11 student, competed in the Chelmsford Engineering competition in July 2009 and won the innovations category and was then subsequently invited to the Young Engineers of Great Britain national final.

Josh developed an innovative design which incorporated a dynamo attachment for a suitcase to enable a mobile phone to be charged.  The idea is that as the wheels turn, it winds the dynamo and charges the device.  Further development is required to make the device appropriate for a wider range of luggage and business cases.  Josh certainly has his work cut out in preparation for the event where he will be showcasing his new ideas at the Big Bang Event.

We wish Josh the best of luck with his design.

Lego Club news...

The Lego club runs for members who are interested in robotics and programming of the microcontroller to complete problem solving missions. Robot hardware has to be designed and engineered to work effectively and complete the tasks without failing.  Chelmer Valley High School supports the national and international competition run in the UK by First Hand Technology.

This year’s team are; Thomas Hoare, Billy Prior, George Dodds, Sam Knight, Mitchell Powell, Cadeyrn Bashford, Marcus Nisbit, Andrew Smiley, Sam Skinner. They have been working on the Smart Move challenge

“We’ve really enjoyed Lego club so far this year. The club is held every Wednesday after School in T2. We have all learnt to work together as a team which will help us in the future.  It has also helped us with our listening and communication skills”.  Billy Prior & Cadeyrn Bashford.

Problems we have over come during this project:

·          Getting the team to listen

·          Finding out the information

·          Editing the project

·          Building the robots

·          Programming the robots

·          Preparing the equipment for the competition

·          Creating posters for the presentation

·          And doing the presentation itself!

Formula Schools club news...

Team CVHS GP

In the Formula schools club we are currently developing a petrol powered radio controlled car to race against other competing schools nationally in a race day at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. We started off being given a basic kit of parts which we have been adapting to improve the design.

So far we have been concentrating on improving both the handling and steering ability. To achieve better handling we have developed an independent front suspension design, and we will soon begin to develop our car body shape ready for vacuum forming a prototype shell for testing prior to a full carbon fibre shell for race day, time allowing.

Other work that has been undertaken so far this year has been to fit the standard rear suspension, engine & drive belt assembly which can be seen to the rear of the chassis.

We will also be looking for potential sponsors of the team in the near future to help with the cost of tyres, fuel and materials as race day approaches.

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