Congratulations to the Robot Rebels robot club team from Widcombe Junior School in Bath who have made it through to the National finals of the First Lego League robotics championship as a result of winning the 2017 regional heats.
The team, which consists of 10 year 6 pupils, will compete against other teams from primary and secondary schools around the country, each using Lego-based robots that the teams have designed, constructed and programmed themselves to solve a series of themed tasks.
The Widcombe School team meets once a week under the guidance of the schools’s IT technician Jan Mason, her husband Doug and their three sons, all of whom are former Widcomeb pupils. Doug explained, “We started the Lego Robotics Club 13 years ago and over the years the teams have made it through to five European championships in venues such as Mannheim, Istanbul, Copenhagen and Pampelona, which is obviously a great achievement for the children. We’re particularly excited about this year’s event as if the team does well, the world finals take place in June just up the road at the University of Bath.”
Doug went on to the explain that the club gives the children the chance to design and build robots following a different theme each year, with the children taking all of the central roles. “It’s a great way to encourage children into science and technology, while also giving them the chance to solve problems as a team.”
Each member of the team is given the chance to take on different roles, with Mason explaining, “I love the building,” Thea explaining that for her its the programming that’s most enjoyable and Luca commenting, “It’s cool to be able to show what we can do.”
For more information on the Lego Robot League go to www.firstlegoleague.co.uk
