Brunel's ss Great Britain

From left: Claire Reed (assistant education officer), Adele Fletcher (lead teacher for gifted and talented), Tim Watson in the role of Sir Alan Sugar, Beth Holmes, Lucy Baker, Bethan Hughes, Helen Horler (education and access officer). Back: Joe Boult and Eric Brook.

A total of 200 year nine students will start their week at Brunel’s ss Great Britain by following an engineering ship’s trail to discover how forward-thinking Brunel’s ideas were, and what problems he encountered when designing the world’s first iron, propeller-driven, steam ship in 1843.

They will meet ss Great Britain Trust volunteer Tim Watson – aka ‘Sir Alan Sugar’ – and his team. They will demand the highest standards as pupils work in groups to gather ideas and produce business plans and sketches of their proposed designs.

Back at school, each group will divide up tasks from product design and engineering to finance.

Pupils will account for budgets and make appointments to get technical advice about their plans with Matthew Heywood and Will Reynolds, the on-hand maritime engineering experts, from BMT Defence Services.

At the end of the week the groups will pitch their final business plan and sketches to the panel of judges including Tim ‘Sir Alan’ Watson, joined by the Trust’s own ‘Margaret and Nick’ (Volunteer Education Assistants Linda Harrison and Neil Light). As in every ‘The Apprentice’ show, Tim will also ask for input from his special advisors Matthew Heywood, Will Reynolds, the maritime engineering experts, and Roger Cooper, Managing Director of BMT Defence Services.

The week is also an opportunity for the ss Great Britain Trust to pilot ideas for the ‘Future Brunels’ education programme, designed to encourage young people into careers in science and engineering. It will be launched as part of the Brunel Institute conservation and learning centre, due to open in 2010.

Helen Horler, Education & Access Officer for the ss Great Britain Trust, said: “We have been working in close partnership with Redland Green School and BMT Defence Services to plan this week-long event.

“We have many resources from a science and engineering, as well as a historical perspective, which pupils can use to gather information for their projects. Most inspiringly, of course, in our view is Brunel’s masterpiece, the ss Great Britain.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to enthuse students about science and engineering, and I am looking forward to seeing their creative ideas and plans!”

Adele Fletcher, Lead Teacher for Gifted and Talented Students at Redland Green School said: “This is an exciting time to be able to work with students in a truly cross-curricular format which encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and involves a leading museum and local businesses. Our students are very excited and looking forward to challenge.”

Roy Quilliam, Technical Director at BMT Defence Services said: “BMT has long been involved with local schools and universities around the Bristol and Bath area.  We are keen to encourage young minds to discover engineering and the satisfaction and rewards it brings.

“We are delighted to be involved in this project and continue the relationship we have with Brunel’s ss Great Britain.  In her day, her design was truly innovative.  We strive to take similar progressive steps today.  We see helping young people to harness their creative abilities as key to maintaining Great Britain’s leading role in innovating the technological developments of the future.”

Tim ‘Sir Alan’ Watson has promised not to fire anyone unless absolutely necessary!

• For more information about school visits and education workshops please go to ssgreatbritain.org.
• To book a school visit or education workshop call 0117 926 0680.

 Bookmark this page

        What's this?