Rotary Youth Technology Competition 2024

The club’s annual Rotary Youth Technology Competition was held at Birchwood School on 12th November. This year’s task involved the design and construction of a Dragster using a STEM construction kit, rubber bands and metal washers! Their Dragsters were scored on distance covered in a straight line and speed (measured by a controlled stopwatch remotely triggered at the Dragsters broke two beams).

Four schools, Hockerill Anglo European College, Bishops Stortford College, Birchwood High School and Leventhorpe School, were represented by teams at each of Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. The judges were looking not only for the Dragsters speed in a straight line but also evidence of teamwork in the planning, how well the Dragster was constructed and the quality of the portfolio. There was much excitement at the end as the final iteration of their model Dragsters were put through their paces in the school hall.

Birchwood School won the KS3 group by a very tight margin. Birchwood also won the KS4 and KS5 group, completing a clean sweep for the home teams, the first in anyone’s memory. The winners received their certificates and a prize from Rotary Club President, Mr Richard Hartley. Huge thanks to the judges Colin Butler, Richard Roscoe and Duncan Forbes, so ably organised by Chief Judge, John Barfoot.