We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our pupils in the ISA STEAM competition. This year, our talented young minds from Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6 have demonstrated exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills, and scientific knowledge.
Years 3 & 4: Design and Build a Bridge
Orion impressed the judges with his superbly presented written entry, detailing his approach to designing and building a bridge that could support a toy car. His explanations of the six experiments were clear and concise, and the accompanying photographs provided great insight into his work. Orion’s video was equally compelling, showcasing his attention to detail and enthusiasm for the project. The judges particularly appreciated his explanation of how adding a cross brace increased the strength of a square and his understanding of trusses. Orion’s presentation in the finals was most impressive, and he answered the judges’ questions with confidence and clarity. Congratulations, Orion, on winning the Year 3/4 competition!
Reflecting on his experience, Orion shared, “When I was young, I walked across an iron bridge and it inspired me to take part in the ISA STEAM competition. I really loved building my Chameleon Cantilever Crossing. I showed enthusiasm in my presentation and was able to show the judges my passion for bridges and their design and construction.”
Years 5 & 6: Design a Robot to Solve a School Problem
Henry A-C, Ryan A, and Felix W captivated the judges with their innovative robot design aimed at solving a problem in our school. Their written entry was clear and well-structured, starting with an explanation of the identified problem. The hand-drawn design sheet was nicely presented, and the explanation of the drive mechanism was thorough. The judges enjoyed their fun and informative video, which explained their goals and proposed solutions. The team’s presentation in the finals was engaging, and they provided thoughtful answers to the judges’ questions. The judges were particularly impressed with their consideration of possible refinements, such as adding a removable hopper to the waste collection part of the robot. Congratulations to Henry, Ryan, and Felix on winning the Year 5/6 competition!
Henry reflected on the project, saying, “I enjoyed coming up with solutions to problems we faced and building the model. It was great seeing the model improve when we added something new and seeing the progress we had made on the model from the start to now.”
Felix added, “I really enjoyed working collaboratively with my friends as well as creating the movement because it was really satisfying being able to control and turn Tidytron 9000 using the caterpillar tracks. I learnt how to write a simple code to control the brush on top of learning how diggers and other contraptions with treads move.”
Mrs Patel, Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning) commented: “This year, all pupils in Years 5 and 6 participated in the ISA STEAM Challenge, with a significant number of pupils from Years 3 and 4 also taking part. The children demonstrated exceptional innovation and creativity in their robot and bridge designs. They developed various prototypes and rigorously tested their durability and problem-solving capabilities in response to the ISA challenge. Securing first place in both the ISA STEAM Year 3-4 and Year 5-6 categories is a distinguished accomplishment. We are immensely proud of Orion, Henry, Felix, and Ryan for their outstanding Chameleon Cantilever Crossing and Tidytron 9000. Congratulations on this incredible achievement!”
We are incredibly proud of all our pupils for their hard work and dedication. Their enthusiasm for science and engineering is truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing more of our pupils’ incredible achievements in the future. Keep up the fantastic work and continue to explore and enjoy the world of STEAM!