STUDENTS who are building success brick by brick will be representing their school at a national competition after becoming regional champions.

The team from the robotics club at Carmel College, in Darlington, have just won the regional championships in a competition aimed at inspiring future leaders in science and technology.

They have been taking part in the First Lego League, giving them the opportunity of becoming the best Lego builders in the world.

Though they have been competing in the league for several years, it is the first time they have reached the national final.

They are to take part in a series of missions, using computer software and Lego Technic blocks to complete the tasks in just two and a half minutes.

Simon Roberts, who is the computing curriculum leader at Carmel College, said the school was thrilled with the result.

He said: “Hopefully we are looking at the next generation of computer programmers and engineers inspired by their love of Lego.”

The First Lego League is aimed at giving young people the chance to focus and research a series of scientific and real-world challenges.

Carmel College’s robotics club has been running at the school since 2009.

The team won the regional championships after amassing a total of 305 points.

They will now travel to Bristol at the end of the month, where they will compete in more challenges in a bid to get to the world festival, which takes place in Greece and America.

They will also have to make a presentation and demonstrate they can work as a team.

If they are successful in Bristol, they will having the chance of getting a place at the world festival in Greece and America.

Mr Roberts said: “We started the club in 2009 for Year 7-11 students but this is the first time we have reached the national finals, which we are all thrilled about.

“Engineering company Jacobs and the school’s PTA are sponsoring us at the national finals.

“It’s a great competition; students might fail in any one task but eventually, when they succeed, the process builds their resilience, grit and determination to solve problems.”

Student Josh Connor, 14, who has enjoyed being part of the club, said: “It does help you adapt to any problem and work with other people in a variety of lessons.

“We are all very excited about the prospect of going to Bristol and trying to qualify for the world festival.”

Carmel College principal Mike Shorten added: “It’s a great reflection of the dedication of the staff involved but even more exciting to see the student team thrive and succeed in the new world of robotics.”