In March 2019, Kirk Balk Academy students from year 7 took part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) workshop delivered by the Marine Society and Sea Cadets. The workshop highlighted potential careers within marine engineering and also supported their science learning in a fun and interactive way.

After learning about the principles of buoyancy, they applied their new knowledge to design and build their own boat using only a piece of card, foil and sellotape. Their finished boat was then tested by floating it on water and it had to hold as many marbles as possible before it sank. There were lots of creative designs with some only holding 9 marbles, up to the record of 285 marbles.

Student feedback from the event included: “we had an amazing time”, it has helped me understand more about engineering, buoyancy and Newton’s 3 rd Law”.

Well done to all the students who took part, you were a credit to the academy.