Rotary in York Technology Tournament

York pupils’ technology skills are challenged

York district school pupils aimed for top marks in technical ingenuity as they swapped their classroom for a high-powered design and construction challenge - the Rotary in York Technology Tournament. As at March 2024, this initiative is 'paused'.

The secondary school pupils were being challenged to show their concept, practical engineering and construction skills in the Technology Tournament, jointly organised by York’s three Rotary Clubs and hosted by Portakabin at their international headquarters of Huntington, York.The all-day event was split into three sections – Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced and attracted twenty-six teams from nine local schools. Teams (of four) were marked on their ‘portfolio’, design and building of a mobile crane. Working to a strict deadline, they were expected to demonstrate their working construction to the judges at the end of the set period.

Technology tournaments such as this one are run by Rotary clubs throughout the UK and are formulated to test students’ design and technology skills engaged as a team.

Bringing their own tools, which they would use in their normal school technology lessons, they were given a detailed brief on the day to design and construct a ‘crane’. Marks were awarded on the success of their ‘construction’ and also on a ‘portfolio – a script’ which they compile during the project detailing how they approached the task, the design and how they built it. Certificates and medals were awarded to the three top teams in each age sector.

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Barbara Boyce and the Civic Party joined Rotary officials from all three York clubs and the Rotary District Governor (area chairman), Rtn Robert Morphet, in viewing the enterprise of the pupils  throughout the day.

Rotary in York consists of: City of York Rotary Cub, Rotary York Ainsty and York Vikings Rotary Club.

The event required no prior preparation by school staff or students and was free to enter. All materials and running costs were borne by York’s three Rotary Clubs.

Twenty-six teams took part in the tournament, representing nine schools:

Ø  All Saints RC School, York, 

Ø  Ampleforth College, 

Ø  Bootham School, York, 

Ø  Fulford School, York, 

Ø  Joseph Rowntree School, York, 

Ø  Millthorpe School, York, 

Ø  Vale of York Academy (formerly Canon Lee), York

Ø  The Mount School, York.

Ø  Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering.

 Results:

Advanced section: 1 Lady Lumley’s; 2 The Mount; 3 All Saints RC.

Intermediate: 1 Bootham; 2 Joseph Rowntree; 3 Fulford

Foundation: 1. All Saints RC; 2. Lady Lumley’s; 3. All Saints RC.

Best Portfolio: The Mount (Foundation); Bootham (Intermediate); The Mount (Advanced).The prizes were presented by: Rtn Colin Perrott (president of Rotary York Ainsty); Rtn Brian Joscelyne (president, City of York RC) and Portakabin CEO Derek Carter.

Full results, including the names of pupils in the winning teams follow: