ICE Cityzen Award

Written by Sixth Form student Ridhi, the report below captures a fantastic example of the rich and varied opportunities available at Charters Sixth Form. We are rightly proud of the way we encourage students to explore beyond the classroom, embracing cross-curricular experiences that develop real-world skills and confidence. Their account highlights not only the value of academic learning, but also the impact of collaboration, creativity and practical application. 

Very well done to everyone involved in the ICE Cityzen Award, we are very proud of you all.

Due to the opportunity provided by Charters, our team was able to participate in the ICE Cityzen Award. This project involved us first creating a variation of mini games centred around civil engineering. They were designed to test our planning, reasoning, problem solving, mathematical and teamworking ability through a variety of challenges, from parks and bridges to natural disasters. We didn’t stop there; we were required to undertake a main project that utilised civil engineering to provide a solution to a problem in our local area.

Our team decided to focus on our school, specifically addressing the issue of overflowing drains. The site can often become flooded, and we proposed a sustainable solution involving bio-retention planters. 

Due to our presentation skills, we were awarded the Loudspeaker Award and were able to attend a winner’s meal in London with the Institution of Civil Engineering in March. 

Our visit to the Institution of Civil Engineering Headquarters offered us a profound understanding of the organisation's core values and showcased the impactful projects they have undertaken. We were also able to meet the President of the Institution of Civil Engineering and further explore the ICE building. 

 As part of our success, a workshop will be organised for students by the Institute of Civil Engineering, which allows future students to gain mentorship to help them succeed in public speaking. 

This project has been a fantastic experience, and our team was able to get better insight into what it takes to be a civil engineer. We are so grateful that Charters provided us with such an amazing opportunity and we look forward to seeing other students take part next year.