Back in January, all of Year 8 and 9 took part in the Design Sprint Workshops, where they spent a day exploring environmental issues in their local area and designing sustainable solutions to tackle these problems.

Across the two cohorts, we had approximately 45 teams taking part. From these 45 teams, over 20 wanted to continue developing their ideas. Over a series of workshops and lunchtime sessions, we have been developing their skills in designing prototypes, considering market research, and beginning to create finance plans. Only 7 of these 20 teams made it to the next round.

The Dragon's Den stage saw each team present their project to 4 guest judges.

Meet our judges!

 

 

 

 

 

The 7 teams presented their projects to four guest judges in front of an audience of Year 8 and 9 students. Each team pitched their ideas, followed by taking questions from the judging panel and the audience. The judging panel worked with Mrs Allsopp-Medley to undertake tough deliberations to decide which teams progress to the next stage of the scheme.

Three teams have been chosen to receive £50 of seed funding to invest in their project and kick-start these into reality. From those 3 teams, we will then be choosing one to represent Belle Vue at the national finals in London later in the year, where they will bid for up to £1000 of additional funding. The three teams are:

Team Scare Pollution - a campaign to increase awareness of environmental issues and encourage people to be more environmentally friendly, including through campaigns to encourage students to cycle to school and fundraising to improve the surrounding environment.

Team Energy Probe - a project to use a 3D printer to create a wind turbine that could power our school and reduce our energy use from the national grid. The group carefully researched renewable energy sources, together with local climatic conditions, to decide that wind power would be our most sustainable option.

Team Seed to Tree - a project to encourage people to buy seeds and small plants, plant them at home, and use an app to monitor their growth. People who submit photos of their plants growing on the app can be entered into prize draws, and personalised plant pot designs will also be available.

We look forward to seeing which team makes it to the national finals in London!