BUDDING engineers from a Colchester school represented Colchester at the Young Engineers National Awards Finals in Birmingham.

A team of teachers and students made their way to the Birmingham NEC over the weekend to compete in the nationwide finals, and managed to win several awards, including The Young Engineers School of the Year Runner-Up and the Young Engineers Student of the Year going to Georgie Bingle.

Each of the students was able to speak confidently and impeccably to different sets of judges from the British Army (BASE), their own projects and what impact STEM has on each of their lives.

The team were noted for being extremely enthusiastic about STEM in their school.

Assistant headteacher for the Gilberd School Mark Orrin said: “The support that we have had from James Wilkinson and his team at the Essex Employment and Skills Board ‘Education and Industry STEM Programme’ as part of Essex County Council has been a significant factor in the Gilberd School’s success and through the one-off events and extended projects they have organised, we have been able to offer our students opportunities to learn about the range of careers and disciplines open to them in years to come.

“As staff, we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and creativity the team brought to these finals. They have done incredibly well and they have shown how STEM has impacted students at The Gilberd School in such a positive way.”