UK CanSat competition teacher workshop CY601 / A04

This workshop is aimed at teachers who have entered a team into the UK CanSat competition.

The first day of the workshop will be made up of the Python programming constructs: sequencing, selection and iteration course (you may be eligible for a subsidy for this course) and the Raspberry Pi Pico course. Following a day introducing the electronics and technologies that underpin a typical CanSat mission, the second day will provide an overview of the competition and teachers will be able to assemble, solder and code example CanSat kits. During the workshop teachers will be provided with the basic components of the CanSat to work on. Teachers will also explore a range of ideas that they can take back to the classroom to take their CanSat project to the next level.

The UK CanSat competition provides students with the opportunity to have practical experience working on a small-scale space project. Aimed at school and college students over the age of 14, CanSat is a European Space Agency competition. The CanSat competition provides students with their first practical experience of a real space project. They are responsible for all aspects of a typical space mission: selecting the components, testing, preparing for launch and then analysing the data.

ESERO-UK organises an annual UK CanSat competition, the winner of which will be invited to compete in the European CanSat competition. The competition is open to teams from any school or college in the UK. Team members must be over the age of 14 at the time of the competition.

In addition to the skills you will develop for the CanSat competition, the Python course is part of the Key stage 3 and GCSE Computer Science certificate. This is an accredited programme to upskill teachers in confidence and subject knowledge up to and including GCSE computer science. This programme is subsidy funded for teachers at state-maintained schools in England. You may wish to engage with further Python CPD, available face-to-face, remotely or online - click here to view all our programming courses.

Residential information:

This is a residential course at the National STEM Learning Centre, York. Meals and overnight accommodation are included for participants for the duration of the course. 

If you wish to extend your stay in York, bed and breakfast will be available at the centre’s on-site accommodation at a discounted rate of £47+VAT per night. You can email reception@stem.org.uk to secure this rate, providing their course booking information and confirming the night(s) they would like to stay.