It was a pleasure to welcome students from Reaside Junior School to our first event at Wragge & Co in Birmingham. Having come top in our Maths and Enterprise Challenge last term, the students had certainly earned their places. The three top teams were here to show off their teamwork skills in the Bridge Building Challenge.

After a snappy game of Zip Zap Boing, the students got to know their volunteer helpers for the day and started to think about what makes an effective team. With the background set, it was time to reveal the main task of the day: to construct a prototype bridge and present this to whole group.

As planning begun, each team was given a different set of resources. Teams needed to cleverly trade resources to make sure they had everything they needed to build their bridges. With production well underway, it was clear we were going to see some very original bridges by the end of the day.

Following some last minute adjustments, teams focussed their attention on how they were going to present their prototypes. With each team carefully rehearsing their pitch, the judges took their seats and the confident Team CLC volunteered to go first.

As the students began to speak, teachers, volunteers, judges and EE staff alike were surprised by the clarity, confidence and all round quality of the presentations. The judges’ decision was going to be tough one. Following a long deliberation, victory went to the aptly named Dream Team for their meticulously made, sturdy bridge and confident pitch. Well done to them and to all Reaside students for their hard work and for taking the task in their stride.

Huge thanks go to Wragge & Co volunteers: Melissa, Emily, Jade and Kulsuma for their time and enthusiasm and to Lorna and Katie for overseeing the day and bearing the hard task of judging the students’ presentations.