Girls Put Engineering Skills to the Test in Medieval Catapult Challenge
Year 8 pupils at Leicester High School for Girls have been putting their engineering skills to the test, designing and building medieval-style catapults as part of the School's strong focus on STEM education.
The challenge formed part of the School's extended STEM programme, which gives pupils in Years 7 and 8 opportunities throughout the year to explore science and engineering through practical projects.
This half-term, the girls investigated the physics behind medieval siege engines, working in teams to research, design and build catapults capable of launching ping-pong balls towards a model castle.
But success wasn't always straightforward. Early prototypes often failed, encouraging pupils to rethink their designs, test new ideas and learn from their mistakes.
The project developed not only their understanding of physics and engineering, but also teamwork, communication, problem-solving and resilience.
Andrew McMurray, Head of Science and Enrichment, said:
"What I love about projects like this is seeing the girls realise that getting something wrong is part of getting it right. They kept testing, making changes and finding solutions. That's what real engineering looks like, and it's exactly the confidence we want our girls to develop."
Practical STEM learning is an important part of life at Leicester High School for Girls, encouraging pupils to be curious, think independently and explore the possibilities of science and engineering.
The girls' finished catapults and project reports will be showcased to parents at the School's Her Brilliance Day in the summer.