The Learning Grid

  Rockingham 2009

Overview
Activities
Booking
Directions

Overview

What is the Rockingham Festival?

Rockingham Motor Speedway Nr Corby, Northants is the UK's only purpose built motor racing circuit and the Rockingham Festival is the Learning Grid's annual three day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The Festival gives young people from 8 to 16 the chance to try a variety of hands-on activities and be inspired by real-life opportunities in science and engineering.

Teachers are invited to bring a class or a whole year group for a day out that combines learning and entertainment through a variety of workshops, shows and race events.

In 2008, over 2,400 pupils and 276 teachers from 64 Primary and Secondary schools across the UK came to the Festival. 97% of teachers agreed that the activities offered curriculum enrichment opportunities that were relevant to their pupils and 92% said they would like to get their school involved next year.

What will my pupils do?

Each school receives an individually tailored activity programme for their visit, for a half to a full day. The programme will include a selection of the activities, based on availability and pupil ages. Please click on "Activities" above for descriptions of them.

Activity programmes are designed to balance hands-on workshop activities with entertainment, including free-time to watch Learning Grid Quality Standard competitions taking place on the track. It also provides an opportunity for teachers to assess the suitability of Quality Standard activities on show for use in their own school and meet people already involved.

Curriculum links

All of the activities are directly relevant to the curriculum, in particular physics, design and technology, maths and citizenship. The Youth Engineering Show, for example, gives pupils an overview of the wide range of career opportunities from science and engineering and the implications of engineering and technology in areas such as energy, robotics and computer games.

Pupils will also be able to meet apprentices and recent graduates working at companies such as MBDA, Bentley and E-ON. They will have the chance to hear, first-hand, what opportunities are available and what working as an engineer is really like. Impressive examples of world class engineering are supplied by companies such as Caterpillar and JCB.

How will they find their way around?

Each pre-booked group will be assigned a mentor (typically an undergraduate or young graduate engineer) who will make sure the day passes smoothly and will guide the group around controlled areas such as the pit garages.

How much does it cost?

Entry is free and so are all the activities. Visitors are welcome to bring a packed lunch or purchase food on-site; drinking water will be provided free.

2008 Primary School feedback

"Just to say a big Thank you for the fantastic time that 7 of our Year 6 children had at Rockingham Festival last Wednesday. They were absolutely enthralled and excitedly fed back to the rest of us when they returned. Many thanks to the mentor who accompanied them during their stay. The teacher that accompanied them has thoroughly recommended it. If it's possible we would like to bring our whole Year 6 if you were organising it for 2009"!

Market Harborough C of E School