Solar Utility Car (SUV)

This partnership involves students from Ifield Community College and Ardingly College building new solar powered cars and developing a STEM bus together. The team have built the only UK road registered solar car.

Aims

To develop skills through activities that are outside the school curriculum.

To give opportunities to work within a purpose-built environment. 

To broaden the aspirations of the students.

To develop confidence in public speaking through presenting ideas and pitching to companies.

To work as a team to carry out projects, enter competitions (STEM TES winner 2020) and race in solar events both in Europe and Australia. In these events the team has on three occasions represented GB.

Background

The original project started in 2011 at Ardingly College.  It has been the aim of the project to acquire school partnerships. In 2016 the project worked with Portslade Community College, however due to staff changes this partnership ceased in 2017.  In 2018 after discussion & a firm commitment from Ifield Community College, this partnership has gone from strength to strength.

Resources

Team of committed staff from both schools.

Breakfast and lunch provided by Ardingly College.

Significant financial assistance from Ardingly College to subsidise cost of trips for the partner school and to finance the build of the solar cars.

Impact

Aspirations of students from partner school have been raised:

Two students from Ifield College are now Heads of school.

Solar car Project Manager has supported UCAS applications and students have been successful in securing university places.

All students have grown in confidence, taking active parts in pitching to companies and securing funding.

The overarching aim with the new SUV is to put all the technology acquired over this project, and the ones that have gone before, to public use. To use these projects to showcase what can be achieved using solar and what this could mean for the developing world, in the hope that one day it might make a significant difference.

Pupil Involvement

Students from both schools range from YR9 - YR13 and are a mix of boys and girls.

Frequency

The students meet each Saturday morning in term time from 9:15am - 1pm beginning the session with a breakfast chat.