A highlight of the competition came from the underdog 34701B, Space VEX Helekopter, a determined second-form team, brand new to this season’s VEX Robotics game. Paired with 10789S, Not Jellyfish United from City of London School for Girls, their alliance was a force to be reckoned with. Despite being new to the competition, the teams’ strong partnership saw them score the joint highest points in the competition during their intense finals matches against rivals from Watford Grammar School for Boys and St Olaves Grammar School.
This led to the ultimate tiebreaker, with the final four teams battling it out for the coveted Teamwork Champion title and a spot at the National Championships. The stakes were high, and the pressure was on! In the tie-break matches, both teams faced unexpected challenges that had not appeared in earlier rounds. Though they narrowly missed out on victory, their impressive teamwork strategy earned them a well-deserved runners-up position in a regional final, an achievement that speaks volumes about their dedication and skill.
In addition to their remarkable performance, third from teams, 34701A, Zeus on the Loose, finished third, while 34701C, The Red Dragons, secured a strong fourth place finish out of twenty teams! Clearly, our lunchtime robotics club is building true success stories that we as a school community can be proud of!
“I had such an amazing time at the competitions. I loved meeting people and learning new strategies and ideas. Even though we didn’t win, everyone left feeling that they had learnt something and knew how to improve. The judging process was really fun, as we got to spend a couple minutes talking about our robot and how we designed it. The judges were really interested in our thought process and asked us challenging questions.”
Joe (Team ‘Zeus on the Loose’
VEX robotics team- ‘34701A Zeus on the Loose’ are Teamwork Champions qualified for the national championship in Telford where they earned fourth place alongside their alliance partner, a school from Derby – an impressive result in such a competitive field. This accomplishment reflects their dedication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. We’re incredibly proud of their effort and the way they’ve represented our school. Congratulations to the entire team on this outstanding achievement!
A key element of the competition is the alliance structure, where teams from different schools pair up to form strategic partnerships. This setup required our pupils to engage in detailed discussions with their alliance partners, develop joint strategies, and collaborate seamlessly. Working alongside teams from other schools, our pupils not only demonstrated outstanding technical expertise but also showcased exceptional communication and teamwork. Each pair had to find ways to maximise their combined strengths while adapting to different robot designs, making on-the-fly decisions that kept them competitive throughout each round.
This added layer of collaboration made the competition all the more exciting, testing the teams’ ability to think strategically and adapt to new challenges. These remarkable achievements at the Regional Championships reflect the hard work, ingenuity, and team spirit that City of London School is known for.
“Standing on the stage and controlling the robot was incredibly intense. The pressure was on, but we managed to score a considerably high result, which was a huge relief. The experience gave me and the team so much to be proud of. Coming second was already a huge achievement, and I loved the experience. I’m so grateful to have been part of this team.”
Lucas (team ‘Space VEX Helekopter’)
Congratulations to all our teams for their outstanding success! We’re looking forward to even greater performances in future robotics challenges! Lastly, a challenge for you…..can you guess why our teams are numbered 34701?
