For the past six years, Dollar’s Prep 5 have taken part in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award (SESLA), which is a competition supported by the University of Strathclyde. This award invites primary and secondary pupils from across Scotland to apply an ‘engineer’s eye’ to the world and identify any problems which need solving. The pupils create and design their own inventions, which are reviewed by a variety of judges. As part of the submission, pupils must have an engineering session with industry professionals. This included four apprentices from SP Energy Network and three from TechnipFMC.
In 2019, two Dollar pupils received commendations for their work – a huge achievement considering there were over 17,000 entries submitted. Keen to uphold this reputation, our current Prep 5 excitedly took to the Captain’s Room for their STEM day. The pupils had the chance to build wind turbines, cars and bridges, all under the guidance of Mrs Tempany, Director of Business Development for Forth Valley College, along with some excellent engineers and apprentices from various engineering fields.
As well as learning about engineering and design, the day also promoted team-building and time-keeping, and helped the pupils improve their problem-solving skills. The day culminated in our budding engineers racing the cars they had built!
Prep 5 pupils will now submit completed illustrations and pitching letters for their own inventions. The winners will be announced in June.
Dollar wishes Prep 5 staff and pupils all the best for the upcoming competition.
