History 

Scalextric4Schools has its roots in a slot car challenge developed by two of the most creative and technically brilliant teachers that ever taught D&T.

David Eyre was Head of the D&T department and Chris Jarman a Senior Teacher at Edgecliff High School in Staffordshire, and both had a proven track record of engaging their pupils in fun, challenging and innovative activities including the design, building, and racing of slot cars.

 

When greater precision was needed, chassis were designed using CorelDraw and laser cut.

Bodies were designed using PTC’s ProDesktop 3D parametric modelling software with moulds machined using small Roland Engravers and latterly a high speed 3 axis Boxford router.

In his roll as County Advisor for D&T in Staffordshire, Tim Brotherhood was very familiar with David and Chris who often presented at heads of department meetings

In the late noughties, Tim moved to PTC as Education Programme Manager and soon made the connection between the Edgecliff slot car challenge and PTC customer in the UK, Hornby.

Hornby used what is now called PTC Creo 3D parametric modelling software to design Hornby trains, Scalextric slot cars and Airfix model aircraft kits.

Key to the partnership was Roger French, CEO of PTC Platinum PTC software reseller in the UK, Root Solutions.

PTC managed the challenge providing schools, teachers, and pupils with their industry leading Creo software, STEM curriculum, software guides and training through their network of expert trainers.

The inaugural competition in took place in 2009 and saw regional heats being held across the UK. Winners from the regional heats converged on the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield for the UK finals.

The next competition took place at the RAF Museum at Cosford which proved so popular all future competitions were held there.

The team from Bideford College arrived in style in a Bentley provided by their local car dealership!

In 2012, two teams from #30 School from St Petersberg in Russia travelled to the UK to take part in the finals and demonstrated a very high level of scientific and mathematical understanding.

Their cars were innovative and beautifully engineered.