Rainford High teams up with Indian school for STEM challenge

A global collaboration

Rainford High is celebrating the success of its Year 10 and 11 students who took part in an international STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) project with partner school, Anjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar Girls’ English High School, based in India.

The partnership was established through the Formula 1 and British Council ‘Learning Sectors’ programme. This programme brings STEM to life by encouraging students to solve real-world problems through creativity, teamwork, and innovation.

Over several weeks, students from both schools exchanged letters to learn about each other’s cultures, daily lives, and educational experiences.

The partnership culminated in a live Microsoft Teams session. Around 50 students from Rainford High engaged in lively discussions, asking questions and sharing ideas.

Tackling real‑world STEM challenges

As part of the challenge, each school set the other a STEM project focused on addressing a pressing problem in their respective countries. Rainford High students were tasked with exploring solutions to electronic waste in India. Their Indian peers investigated ways to improve food security in the UK.

Students applied skills from across the curriculum, devising multiple approaches to tackle their challenges. Their solutions ranged from proposing legislative changes and designing educational campaigns to exploring scientific processes, such as transforming food waste into acid to neutralise hazardous chemicals. The students then compiled these ideas into PowerPoint presentations complete with voiceovers.

Rainford High triumphantly secured first place across all North West schools in the competition. Its partner school also came first among schools in their region in India.

Judges praise innovation and purpose

The creative range of approaches and professionalism of the presentations truly impressed the judges.

The judging panel commented:

“This was an excellent and highly impressive STEM solution that demonstrated creativity, depth of research, and advanced scientific thinking. The students responded to the brief thoughtfully, presenting innovative solutions such as awareness posters, proposed policy changes, and a well-designed chemical process for the safe reuse and recycling of e-waste.

“The students’ expertise, passion, and commitment to sustainability and social impact were evident throughout, particularly in the consideration of resource reuse, renewable energy, food waste for the experiment and solar panel suggestions for energy-intensive processes, and issues of access to electronic equipment. Overall, this was an innovative and well-researched solution that showcased excellent STEM skills, particularly in chemistry, and a strong awareness of environmental and social responsibility. Well done, Rainford High!”

As a reward for their success, Rainford High students will visit the F1 Media Centre in Biggin Hill. They will have the opportunity to gain an exclusive insight into the world of Formula 1 and STEM in action.

Mr Ian Young, principal of Rainford High, said:

“I am incredibly proud of our students for taking part in this international project with Formula 1 and the British Council, and for developing such an exciting partnership with Anjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar Girls’ English High School. Experiences like this not only strengthen their STEM skills but also inspire them to think globally and act creatively.”