A group of students from a local school is gearing up to compete in the prestigious First Global Challenge in Panama City. This is a huge step forward! They are the first full service school to fly the flag for Great Britain at this prestigious international robotics competition. The competition will see teams from 190 different countries showcasing their skills and innovations, with this year’s theme focusing on sustainable food networks.
Mr. Matt Fry brought robotics to the school two years ago and started the schools first robotics club. He’s been a major influence on keeping them on their path ever since. It wasn’t something the team of students—Teddy, Adrian, and Kieran—expected. They even went on to become UK champions and earned their spot in the world competition! Their surprise success should be seen as an opportunity to further strengthen their commitment and grassroots efforts.
“We bombed our first competition, really badly,” Kieran said, looking back on their early failures. “After that we bounced back and just put everything into it and then we did really well.” The team’s dedication and determination has brought their success to fruition, taking them all the way to the international stage.
Kieran said he was most looking forward to meeting new people from across the world. “None of us knew much about the competition,” he noted. “It’s something I would not have dreamed of when starting robotics.” His enthusiasm is indicative of the profound change these students have experienced since entering Mr. Fry’s robotics club.
Adrian echoed Kieran’s sentiments, stating, “In two years, we’ve come so far. None of us thought when we started that we would become the UK champions and represent our country in a global competition.” Beyond improving their technical skills, the students have gained experience that has fostered their leadership and project management skills.
Mr. Fry lauded his students’ independence, saying, “I don’t want them to be deciding things because I love them. He reiterated that the robot is just one piece of a larger path they’re taking.” The robot is almost the smallest part of this; it’s the leadership, it’s the project-managing, it’s all manner of different things,” he explained. The team has designed their robot, which they might name “Steve,” as part of their preparation for the challenge ahead.
Kieran highlighted Mr. Fry’s pivotal role in their journey, saying, “Mr. Fry is like a god in our eyes. He’s just taken this programme, given it to us and look where we are now – we’re going to Panama.” He added, “Without him, none of this would have ever happened. We can only say ‘thank you.’”