Wakefield school secures place in finals of national contest with 'incredible' drone invention

Students at a Wakefield school have secured a place in the finals of a national competition.
The team of year 8 pupils from Outwood Academy Freeston were tasked to fund and build a prototype tree planting drone that runs on green energy, as part of the award-winning Big Ideas programme.The team of year 8 pupils from Outwood Academy Freeston were tasked to fund and build a prototype tree planting drone that runs on green energy, as part of the award-winning Big Ideas programme.
The team of year 8 pupils from Outwood Academy Freeston were tasked to fund and build a prototype tree planting drone that runs on green energy, as part of the award-winning Big Ideas programme.

The team of year 8 pupils from Outwood Academy Freeston were tasked to fund and build a prototype tree planting drone that runs on green energy, as part of the award-winning Big Ideas programme.

Open to schools across the UK, Big Ideas prioritises science, technology, engineering, maths (STEM) and enterprise, and partners students with local companies to develop their ideas.

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Outwood Academy Freeston students Lucas Clowe, Ben Huskins, and Ben Hodson created Team Aero-Secure, and partnered with local manufacturing company Kongsberg Automotive in Normanton to complete the challenge.

After an initial shortlisting selection in March, they were tasked with building a portfolio of work that was marked by a panel of judges, before a live, online Q&A session in July, after which Team Aero-Secure were crowned regional champions.

Announcing the winners on Twitter, Chief Executive of the Solutions for the Planet Jen Baughan said: “Aero-Secure created an exceptional marketing and fantastic social media campaign with an incredibly achievable idea with a clear plan of action and branded merchandise that is already available for sale.”

Almost 4,000 students across the UK took part in this year's Big Ideas contest.

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Lisa Allott, Principal at Outwood Academy Freeston, added: “At Outwood, we believe in putting students first, to help them achieve their potential and this goes beyond the classroom.

“The students have had an amazing time being involved in this project and recognise that they have been exceptionally fortunate to work alongside the mentors from Kongsberg Automotive, learning life-long skills working with these professionals.

“We are truly grateful for the experience and I am so proud of our students and the ideas they generated, which I believe are truly genius and I know they have grown as individuals as part of this process.

"I would like to thank Kongsberg Automotive for everything they have done for this group of young people and for all their support with careers in our academy with all students."

The final of the competition will be held in November.

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As Mark Spence, Kongsberg Automotive Normanton’s Plant Manager says: “We want to support our local community whenever we can, and what better way than to build students’ interest and excitement in the STEM subjects.

“It’s invigorating to see the students develop their ideas and grow in confidence as the programme progresses. More than ever before, young people are thinking about sustainability and their futures and we are proud to support them in making positive changes.”

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