The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has held three days of hands on activities for 150 school children from across the North East and North West regions.
Youngsters from ten different schools, supervised and supported by volunteer civil engineers, participated in the construction of a seven metre span cable stayed bridge, using special equipment and then tested its strength by walking across it. The cable stayed bridge kit was transported from ICE East Midlands by Carillion Civil Engineering Ltd.
This is the first time that the special kit has been built by pupils from schools in the Tyne Valley and Cumbria.
The pupils from Years 5 and 6 also built model ‘truss’ bridges using nuts, bolts and paper tubes. The strength of the paper bridges was tested by the pupils who experimented by loading them with weights.
The activities took place at Ridley Hall near Haydon Bridge. with pupils attending from Warwick Bridge Primary School, Fir Ends Primary School, Raughton Head CE School, Lanercost Primary School, Lees Hill CE Primary School, Blackford CE Primary School, Stoneraise Primary School, Alston Primary School, Castle Carrock School, Nenthead Primary School and Allendale Middle School.
Stephen Larkin, regional director for ICE North East said: “Over the course of three days pupils have had a chance to build and test cable stayed and truss bridge models. It was great to see pupils from the North East and North West working together in teams. All the children seemed to have had fun whilst working with the civil engineers and hopefully they have all learnt something too.
Alan Butler, Regional Director, ICE North West added: “By promoting this interactive style of learning, we can demonstrate the value of civil engineering in an enjoyable way. I’m sure this hands on approach has really appealed to the pupils and caught their imaginations.”