“We don’t normally do things like this, but I’m having so much fun.”

That was the reaction from one Isle of Wight student after taking part in a major robotics competition held at BAE Systems in Cowes.

Young people from across the Island showcased their engineering, coding and problem-solving skills at the FIRST Tech Challenge regional tournament, after a 20-week programme focused on designing, building and programming competition robots.

Teams from seven schools took part — St Catherine’s School, Medina College, Carisbrooke College, The Lionheart School, The Island Free School, Christ the King College and St George’s School.

The internationally-recognised initiative gives students aged 12 to 18 hands-on experience of engineering, software development and technical design, while developing teamwork, communication and project management skills.

On competition day, teams put their robots through a series of challenges, demonstrating both technical excellence and creativity under pressure.

Top honours went to a combined alliance of St Catherine’s School and Carisbrooke College, while Medina College and The Lionheart School were named tournament finalists.

Medina College also received the prestigious Inspire Award, the highest accolade in the competition, recognising outstanding achievement across robot design, performance, teamwork and community outreach.

Organisers praised the exceptionally high standard of competition, with all teams displaying impressive professionalism, innovation and sportsmanship throughout the event.

A teacher from St Catherine’s School described the event as “probably the highlight of my teaching career”, adding: “The kids had such a great time.”

Industry mentors from organisations including BAE Systems, GKN, Gurit and Yokogawa supported students throughout the programme.

The event was delivered with support from Isle of Wight Council and the Solent Careers Hub, as part of ongoing efforts to create more STEM opportunities for young people on the Island.

Councillor Ros Freeman, chair of the council’s children’s services, education and skills committee, said: “Congratulations to all the schools across the Island who took part in the first-ever Tech Challenge.

“The enthusiasm, talent, and dedication shown by every team have been truly inspiring, with far too many achievements to mention individually. Special congratulations to those who earned the top honours – a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to your hard work and innovation

“A sincere thank you to BAE Systems for hosting and supporting this challenge, providing such a valuable opportunity for young people to develop their skills, confidence and passion for technology and engineering.

“Well done to everyone involved, students, teachers, mentors, organisers and supporters. You have all played a part in marking this inaugural event a great success.”

Events such as the FIRST Tech Challenge help inspire the next generation of engineers, programmers and innovators, while strengthening the pipeline of local talent needed by the Island’s advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.