We caught up with Hazel Chidgey from International Community School (ICS) London. ICS welcome international students from over 65 nationalities. The school opened its doors in Marylebone, central London, in 1979. It has grown and developed over the years and is now one of just a small group of IB Word Schools offering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
Hazel is head of Arts Faculty at the school and wanted to introduce her students to industry to educate, inspire and inform as well as give them unique opportunities to develop professional skills and networks. Delivery solutions company Magway seemed an ideal choice due to its exciting mission to create sustainable delivery opportunities and its innovative engineering and design solutions.
Hazel worked with the Design and Technology Associations’ own CEO Tony Ryan in a previous role. Tony explains, “I worked with Hazel in my first Headship at Leigh Academy in Kent, she is an amazing teacher. I met her again recently when she attended one of the teacher workshops, she is now leading D&T for an independent school in central London.”
Magway
Magway was founded in 2017 by Rupert Cruise, a world-renowned magnetic motors engineer, and Phill Davies, a business expert. Magway’s aim is to decarbonise deliveries by developing a solution for the movement of supplies. The aim is for objects to be delivered efficiently and sustainably. They endeavour to achieve this through an underground network of tunnels and goods being delivered using electromagnetic motors to drive multiple carriages along the track to their chosen destination. Sustainability is the core of what Magway do and they challenge the current narrative surrounding goods delivery.
Work Experience
Following the visit, Hazel asked pupils to create professional presentations about themselves to deliver to Magway. This was in response to a potential opportunity for work experience over the summer. They created slides to present to Josh and five students stood up and delivered it. They talked about their strengths, what they wanted to learn at Magway and what they wanted to achieve in the future.
The students even sent thank you notes to the Magway team and gained from the hands-on experience which has helped them better understand the practical applications of their education. Connecting with industry has also given students access to a network of people who can provide mentorship, advice, and potential job opportunities.
Visit
The group arrived in the morning at 10am and had a quick introduction before being brought straight into a brainstorming session. The students were then introduced to the designer at Magway who went through how they use C.A.D. software to produce design as well as how they continually make incremental changes to improve design. The students were engaged and enjoyed the opportunity to see how design is used in a real-world setting.
The students then spent the rest of the day with Magway Engineer Josh Clark. Josh was brilliant throughout the day and made the session clear for all students as many are EAL students and so English isn’t their first language. He clearly explained the magnets, mechanics, how the weights work and the physics behind it in an accessible way.
After a short break they were taken in to see the track itself and were shown liquid nitrogen which is used to cool units as well as a brilliant demonstration of how their vertical tracks work and how the chassis move. The students were enthused by this and had many questions which highlighted their desire to find out more.
Hazel explains, “This is the first time they have seen anything design/engineer based in real life and honestly they were absolutely thrilled by everything. One student said to me she felt she had learnt so much, she was worried the learning from the start of the day may have fallen out of her ears and gotten forgotten!”
Hazel recaps on the day, “The students are still talking about the whole experience, asking me many questions and exploring ideas they had when visiting the team at Magway. They had the best day and have not stopped talking about how amazing it was.”
Feedback from pupils showed 100% of the group wanted to go back and learn more industry knowledge from the Engineers. When asked what the best bit of the day entailed one pupil mentions that “talking to the employees who designed the whole system” was the highlight of the day. It is this interaction with industry professionals that can open networks and inspire pupils. Others remarked on the way the magnets moved and how their underground railway system works as well as being able to see the carts go around the track in person.
This was a fantastic session that really highlighted the benefits of connecting education and industry. Industry exposure can dramatically enhance students’ learning experience and creates career prospects and clear direction.
Here at the Association we also realise the importance of bridging this gap and our Blueprint 1000 initiative aims to build long-term relationships between companies and schools, locally and nationally, for mutual benefit. Magway delivered a 6-week engineering club at Wembley Primary school whilst part of the Blueprint 1000 scheme which was well received and inspirational to pupils. You can find out more about upcoming projects by emailing blueprint1000@designtechnology.org.uk
Magway can deliver the equivalent of 3000 articulated lorry loads through each 1m diameter pipe, every single day.