Barton Primary School
An Isle of Wight primary school has won the chance to compete at a regional renewable energy competition.
Barton Primary won the Best Solar Design category at the Isle of Wight heat of the ‘Hampshire and Isle of Wight Solar Challenge’ held at Summerfields Primary in Newport on 21 June.
As a result, the school will now represent the Island at the regional final of the Challenge.
The Solar Challenge is a competition that encourages Key Stage 2 pupils to understand and harness the power of the sun to use as an alternative source of energy. Six schools on the Island took part.
Each school is given a two solar powered car kits, with both consisting of a body template, solar cell, motor gearing and wheels. Using the guidelines, the children must build both a solar powered car and a working model of their choice built using recycled materials.
The programme fits into the Key Stage 2 curriculum and provides schools with a way of raising the importance of renewable energy sources and environmental concerns.
Isle of Wight Council Principal Officer for Environment Jim Fawcett organised the Isle of Wight heat and said “The participating schools really embraced the project and the standard of the solar powered cars and models was truly fantastic.
“The pupils also learnt a great deal about renewable energies and how solar power works. For example, they learnt that if their shadows blocked out the sun, then their cars didn’t go as fast.
“I look forward to accompanying Barton Primary to the final in Winchester and wish them luck in the competition”
Also during the day, the Fastest Car competition was won by Arreton Primary School with Summerfields Primary School in second place while Sandham Middle School were runners up in the Best Solar Design category.
As category winners, both Arreton and Barton primary schools also won a £50 voucher to spend at the Centre for Alternative Technology online shop.
The Hampshire Final will be held at the Intech Science Centre and Planetarium on Thursday 8 July
