Isle of Wight students have put their robotics skills to the test in a regional tournament.
The FIRST Tech Challenge was held at BAE Systems in Cowes, and teams of students from seven Isle of Wight schools took part in the competition.
The event was the culmination of a 20-week programme in which students designed, built and programmed robots to compete in a series of engineering challenges.
Taking part were St Catherine’s School, Medina College, Carisbrooke College, The Lionheart School, The Island Free School, Christ the King College, and St George’s School.
Organisers described an impressive level of professionalism and innovation throughout the tournament, with students aged 12 to 18 demonstrating technical ability and teamwork under pressure.
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A teacher from St Catherine’s School said the event had been “probably the highlight of my teaching career,” adding: “The kids had such a great time.”
A combined team from St Catherine’s School and Carisbrooke College took top honours, while Medina College and The Lionheart School were named tournament finalists.
Medina College also received the Inspire Award, the competition’s highest accolade, recognising excellence in robot design, performance, teamwork, and community outreach.
Councillor Ros Freeman, chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services, education and skills committee, said: “Congratulations to all the schools who took part in the first-ever Tech Challenge.
“The enthusiasm, talent, and dedication shown by every team have been truly inspiring, with far too many achievements to mention individually.
“Special congratulations to those who earned the top honours – a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to your hard work and innovation.
“A sincere thank you to BAE Systems for hosting and supporting this challenge, providing such a valuable opportunity for young people to develop their skills, confidence and passion for technology and engineering.
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“Well done to everyone involved – students, teachers, mentors, organisers and supporters.
“You have all played a part in marking this inaugural event a great success.”
The tournament was supported by industry mentors from organisations including BAE Systems, GKN, Gurit and Yokogawa.
The Isle of Wight Council and the Solent Careers Hub also supported the event as part of ongoing efforts to expand STEM opportunities.