Year 10 students visited Pontyclun Fire Station and found out more about the roles and responsibilities of being a fire fighter.

Thank you to our contributors to My Future Fortnight in July 2024 who spoke to students in years 7-10 via Teams during their registration time.

Bethan spoke about her role as an employment solicitor and the routes into the profession.

Mike Nash spoke about his progression from being a Fire Cadet to now managing Health and Safety for South Wales Fire Service.

Dr Campbell spoke about her job as a GP and also training medical students at Cardiff University.

Mr Crowley outlined his career path into teaching following a Computer Science degree.

Kathleen Walker explained why she became a physiotherapist and how an interest in running has led to her PhD study in running injuries.

Today, our year 10 pupils swapped their textbooks for cardboard boxes and glue guns as they teamed up with a group of enthusiastic apprentices (including Y Pant alumni Tia)  from Aston Martin for the thrilling DT Derby

The task was to design, build, and race their very own radio-controlled cars constructed entirely from cardboard. The Main Hall buzzed with creative energy as the students collaborated, putting their design and problem-solving skills to the test. With the expert guidance of the Aston Martin apprentices, the Hall transformed into a mini cardboard car factory. 

A challenging cardboard track had been carefully constructed, complete with hills, moguls, tunnels, and uneven surfaces – a true test of both car design and driving prowess. The excitement was palpable as the students proudly presented their creations at the starting line.

With a flurry of remote controls and cheers of encouragement, the cardboard creations whirred to life. The track was a scene of hilarious mishaps and impressive manoeuvres. Some cars scaled the hills with ease, while others found themselves hilariously stuck in the tunnels. But through it all, the spirit of teamwork and friendly competition shone through.

By the end of the day, everyone – students, teachers, and the Aston Martin apprentices – were sporting wide smiles. The DT Derby challenge was a resounding success, proving that a little imagination, collaboration, and cardboard can go a long way. Not only did the students gain valuable engineering and design skills, but they also experienced the joy of teamwork and creative problem-solving in a fun and engaging environment. The future of engineering might just have a few budding Y-Pant pupils waiting in the wings!