In a remarkable achievement, five Year 10 students from Endon High School in Staffordshire have taken top honours at an elite global Lego robotics competition in Jeonju-si, South Korea. Malachi, Owen (x2), James and Harry, known as team End-Tech, secured the prestigious International Excellence in Engineering Award, beating 43 teams from 32 countries.
After securing a place to represent the UK at the international event by winning the First Lego League UK national final in April, the dedicated students embarked on a significant fundraising effort, successfully raising £25,000 to cover costs. This allowed them to participate in the competition held from 3-5 July.
Competing against some of the world's best teams, End-Tech designed and built their own Lego robot using Python programming language. One of the Owens reflected on the significance of their win, stating that while any award would have been impressive, this particular honour was highly coveted due to its international reputation.
The team members acknowledged the immense pressure involved in competing against such high-calibre teams. Organisers highlighted the competition as a celebration of science and imagination, encouraging collaboration among participating nations. Teacher Shaun Mitchell expressed his pride at witnessing his students thrive on the global stage, interacting with peers from across the globe.
Reflecting on their experience, Malachi described the 'all go, no slow' pace, particularly on the middle day of the three-day competition. Harry noted that what began as a less serious endeavour had turned into a life-changing event, while James expressed his enthusiasm for the 'great' experience of travelling to South Korea for the contest.