Enjoy competition but aren’t the sporting type? 

 

For the past 11 years teams of students at Tanfield School, led by Mr P Carr, have been competing with other schools in VEX Robotics competitions, battling it out to be the best at robotics-themed events. Starting in 2013, a kit given to the school by the Royal Academy of Engineering kick started it all, meaning they had to compete in at least one season of competition. A team of 5 year 9 students was assembled and, in 2014, they won the North East Regional competition, progressing into nationals. 

 

The success only built from there. 

 

Mr Carr went on to say “Every season we’ve won a North East Regionals, some seasons we’ve won multiple”. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they’d won every competition but nationals and have made the semi-finals a few times. While this season may almost be over, this year's team is the strongest chance the school has ever had at progressing to the World competition in Dallas, Texas. The team has already been invited to America for a signature event in America for March 2025. “This season at VCR level is the best we’ve had”. 

 

“VEX is a really nice way to enjoy competition that isn't a sport”. As well as being a challenge in itself, extracurricular activities offer students a chance to do a competitive STEM-based activity. It develops teamwork as well as working with a range of skills such as building, design, coding and control, allowing students to come together as part of a team. 

 

Want to get involved? If you’re a student, Mr Carr recommends “hassle your teachers to get involved, especially the technology teachers or science teachers”. As for teachers who want to start a team “watch the YouTube videos of the competitions, keep an eye out for events and just give it a go, don’t expect to win first time as taking part is an experience itself.”