Leadership and Problem-Solving with BAE Systems

Our Blue Skies Level 2 students from Holyhead High School enjoyed an excellent problem-solving session delivered by BAE Systems last week. June Strydhorst and Joanne Jones challenged the students to create a chair which was strong enough to sit on, using paper rods made in the STIX machine. The students were split into three groups, with a designated leader. The teams had to first design their chairs, with the leader making the final decision on which design to follow. The leader delegated tasks: making rods on the STIX machine and building the chair.  They only had the morning to make the chairs, so the leader had to keep an eye on the time as well. This was a great challenge for the students to reinforce their teamwork skills: problem solving, communication, respecting each others’ ideas, supportive, encouragement, accepting positive criticism and then adapting their ideas. Most importantly, they worked well for their leader, listening to them and respecting their decisions.

After lunch and a tour of the Hawk T2 hangar, Chris Roberts from BAE Systems had the unenviable task of judging the three chairs. Although three super chairs had been made, there was an outright winner. Well done to the students for demonstrating great teamwork and to Atia, Nicole and Christian for good leadership skills. Thank you to June and Joanne for delivering such a fun, but challenging, session.