FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition that challenges pupils to design, build and programme robots to complete complex engineering tasks while developing skills in innovation, teamwork and problem-solving.
The team’s journey began at the South East Regional Finals, where they were awarded the prestigious Inspire Award – the competition’s highest honour – in recognition of their engineering excellence, innovation and collaborative approach. This success secured a place at the UK Championships at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Competing against the country’s top teams, the pupils impressed judges once again, receiving the Innovate Award for the originality and quality of their engineering design. Their performance earned qualification for the European Premier Event in Eindhoven, where they represented both the School and the United Kingdom.
Following months of designing, building, testing and refining their robot, the team rose to the challenge on the international stage, winning six of their seven qualification matches. They finished 20th overall from a field of 105 teams and ranked as the third-highest performing UK team at the event – an exceptional achievement for a first-year team.
Beyond the competition itself, FIRST gives pupils the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world engineering challenges while developing leadership, resilience and communication skills. The project also brings together pupils with interests ranging from programming and engineering to media, project management and outreach, demonstrating the collaborative nature of modern STEM careers.
The team’s remarkable success has established an exciting foundation for robotics at City of London School and City of London School for Girls, and we look forward to seeing the programme continue to grow in the years ahead.
