Posted on / in Events, Primary Engineer

UK CAA & Primary Engineer Partnership – If you were an Engineer, What Would I do?

Following the hugely successful partnership between the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Primary Engineer to work on promoting its competition focussing on Science,  Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) studies with students, the CAA has decided to support and partner with Primary Engineer again, this time with a focus on Lancashire.

The competition, ‘if you were an engineer, what would you do?’ which is going into its 10th year, encourages pupils to identify problems in the world around them and come up with creative solutions for them. This encourages them to appreciate that creative problem solving is a key part of being an engineer.

In 2022 Primary Engineer hosted 16 face to face, UK-wide regional events and exhibitions.  For the first time they were also able to bring together every winning entry from across the UK into one exhibition as part of its presence at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).  At RIAT Primary Engineer also hosted the Inspire Stage, giving children and adults the opportunity to interview the Red Arrows; Blades aerobatic team; General Charles Duke, a former astronaut who in 1972 became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon; Major Tim Peake, the first British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut; Mandy Hickson, one of the first female RAF jet pilots on a frontline Tornado GR4 Squadron and Carol Vorderman, presenter and private pilot.

A total of 33, 430 pupils, 1,233 teachers and 346 schools were involved in the competition from across the UK, with the CAA inspiring 333 entries from eight schools.  

Ben Alcott, International Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “It was a delight to be involved in judging this year’s entries.  The thought and imagination that the children put into their submissions was truly inspiring and a credit to them, their teachers and the Primary Engineer programme.  I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership with Primary Engineer next year.”

Nathalie Cachet-Gaujard, the Primary Engineer Head of Partnerships for the North of England, said: “We are delighted that the CAA is continuing its partnership and joining us as a partner in Lancashire to fund the Leaders Award as it goes into its 10th year. Given the importance of the aerospace sector in Lancashire the CAA is a perfect fit to inspire the future diverse generation of engineers that the aviation and aerospace sector needs to maintain its leading position in the UK. The competition is all about bringing awareness of education pathways and career opportunities into the classroom through the engagement of industry partners such as the CAA.

“Looking ahead to 2022-23 Primary Engineer will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the competition, run the second series of its podcast, return to RIAT and no doubt a few other surprise events along the way; it’s going to be an incredible year!”

The competition is fully funded and open to all primary and secondary teachers in Lancashire, details on how to register can be found on the website: www.leadersaward.com