Last week, Walton Priory Middle School in Stone, participated in the finals of two national competitions – read how they got on!
The first final that Walton Priory Middle School took part in was for the National Enterprise Challenge. Following a tense, online broadcast, team EroSafety came out as the KS3 winners! Sponsored by Air Products, the award was given to the group with the most enterprising method of up-cycling the used gas cylinders. Additionally, one Y7 pupil won the National KS3 Girl in Engineering award as an additional prize!
The second final was the Longitude Explorer Prize. This award focused on the future use of Artificial Intelligence and the team’s use of satellite imagery, global positioning and engineering – all linked together by intricate computer code, obviously impressed the judging panel. The Y8 team came runners up in this competition and won £10,000!
This year, and just before ‘lockdown’, the school’s STEM specialist, Mr Gordon Taylor, nominated by a parent, was awarded the ERA Foundation’s “Engineering Teacher of the Year” for his enthusiasm and skill in getting children engaged with all aspects of the practical curriculum. This huge accolade, together with a prize of £8,000 went a long way to upgrading the school’s Design and Technology equipment.
In recent past years, the Walton Priory has also won the OVO Energy Young Innovators Challenge as well as the Shell Bright Ideas award. These are all national competitions often entered by selective or independent schools. The school are rightly proud to be inclusive and offer these opportunities to all children in their school.
