Wardley robotics at Wardley Primary school

Since 2018, Wardley Robotics has been a beacon of inspiration for children at Wardley Primary School in Gateshead. This vibrant STEM lab has flourished, fostering a culture of innovation and learning. The National Edge AI Hub is excited to support the work undertaken by Wardley Robotics in order to not only inspire the children taking part in the activities but also to support similar STEM projects. The Hub is keen to offer expert guidance on robotics and AI topics, and present on the exciting career prospects that science and engineering offers. As such we aim to not only support the enhancement of the club’s capabilities but also nurture the next generation of tech-savvy innovators.

Wardley Robotics
Wardley Robotics has been inspiring the children at Wardley Primary School in Gateshead since 2018.

Each academic year, the pupils attending the Wardley STEM lab gain real-world problem-solving experience through participating in one of the two guided, global robotics programs on offer: VEX and First Lego League. Both programs, provide opportunities for engagement in robotics and engineering at three different age levels meaning that all children can be involved in the school’s ‘Robotics for All’ program. The majority enjoy robotics through Design & Technology and Computing lessons while some take their learning further by attending our Wardley Robotics Hub as an extra-curricular activity.

The aim of the club is to inspire children to explore robotics and STEM. It is a chance for children to learn how to build, code and compete using robots and robotics. Since its inception, Wardley Robotics teams and mentors have been remarkably successful. They have regularly won regional and national robotics awards. Our national and world awards:

• 2022 VIQC UK National Teamwork Champions
• 2022 VIQC UK National Robot skills Runners up
• 2022 VIQC UK National Excellence Award
• 2023 VIQC UK National Teamwork Runners up
• 2023 VIQC UK National Design Award
• 2024 VIQC UK National Teamwork Champions
• 2024 VIQC UK National Robot Skills Runners up
• 2024 VIQC UK National Amaze Award
• 2024 VIQC World Championship Judges Award

As a result of their UK National Championship victories Wardley Robotics teams qualified for and competed successfully in the 2023 and 2024 VEX Robotics World Championships, in Dallas, Texas. Both teams enjoyed the honour of representing the United Kingdom on the world stage. Amazingly, Team 38154B had won a Judges Award at the World Championships in 2024.

The important work of the STEM lab has been recognised through other prestigious awards. In 2023, at the First Lego League National Championship, a teacher from the lab was presented with the 2023 FLL National Coach of the Year award as well as STEM Northeast Inspirational Primary school teacher award. A pupil from our 2024 world award winning VIQC team won the Excellence Award for the Outstanding Pupil: Age 5-11 which will be presented at the National Design and Technology Association award ceremony in October 2024.

The Wardley Robotics motto – Building more than just robots – reminds everyone that Wardley Robotics looks beyond awards and trophies to the acquisition of new skills and the development of character. The Wardley Robotics team is incredibly proud of the diversity that is within the club and how many girls are engaged and inspired through robotics. 9–11 year olds have the confidence to talk to competition judges and industry leaders as if they had known them their whole lives.

Moving forward, the club wishes to do so much more. The aim is for the Wardley Robotics STEM hub to develop its outreach program to reach beyond our community and into others. To work with as many young people as possible. To share the love of robotics and coding.