School News

Unique engineering experience for Daniel

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A budding engineer from St. Mary’s College has been given a unique insight into the career at a special event at the University of Liverpool.

Year 9 pupil Daniel Frampton from Aughton was invited to take part in a three-day residential Engineering Experience course, run by charity the Smallpeice Trust. The Trust promotes engineering as a career, and describes this course as a hands-on learning experience featuring representatives from some of the country’s best-known organisations.

Divided up into small teams, students from across Merseyside worked on a number of challenges with the help of role-model engineers from big industry names like Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, the Royal Navy and Transport for London. Projects included designing and building a 4x4 vehicle, a wind turbine, an extension to the Northern Tube Line and a warship, all of which had to comply with certain criteria.

Pupils were guided through all stages of product development, from initial concepts to final testing. They also had to bear in mind real-life issues such as the need to work within a budget and to make the projects commercially viable.

Gemma Murphy, Head of Marketing and Development for the Smallpeice Trust, said: “These challenging projects were led by some of the top names in the engineering industry, for which we are very grateful. All of the Year 9 students involved embraced this exciting opportunity and showed real dedication and enthusiasm for their projects and the course as a whole.”

14-year-old Daniel commented: “I really enjoyed taking part in this course. I particularly enjoyed the mechanical engineering activity we did with Jaguar Land Rover, where we had to design the moving parts of a car. It was all really good fun.”

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St. Mary's cricket victory over MCC

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The St. Mary’s College cricket team has recorded a remarkable victory over the MCC in the school’s latest annual fixture against the London-based club.

Founded in 1787, MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the laws of the game so it was a real honour for St. Mary’s to play against them.

The match, played at the Northern Club’s Moor Park ground, was particularly memorable for one of the youngest team members, Year 10 pupil Paddy Travers. With a fantastic knock of 94 not out, Paddy led the run chase that resulted in a four-wicket victory for the Crosby school.

Earlier in the day it had seemed the outcome of the match would be a lot different. The MCC, batting first, seemed well in control of the game as they cruised to a total of 216 for 2 declared. In reply, despite a promising start by St. Mary’s openers Joe Campbell and Harry Howat and skipper Ben Sloan, a batting collapse followed and the college slumped to 48 for 5.

However, this brought Paddy Travers to the crease alongside Tom Alman. As is the tradition with MCC fixtures, Tom was invited to play in the match as the captain of last year’s St. Mary’s 1st XI. The pair proceeded to dispatch the MCC bowling to all parts of the ground as they put on 136 quick runs before Alman was out for a fine 53. It was left to new batsman Scott Snaylam to score the winning runs and see St. Mary’s home with four wickets to spare.

Commenting on the game Principal, Mike Kennedy, said: “Winning this game was a terrific achievement by our young 1st XI this year. I was particularly impressed that they fought back to win from what looked like a hopeless position.”

MCC Captain, Michael Taylor, commented: “I would like to congratulate the St. Mary’s team on their victory, in particular Paddy Travers for a truly remarkable effort from one so young.”

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