Students and staff at saltash.net community school have been celebrating after achieving high levels of success at a national festival of Learning and Technology organised by an organisation called ‘Learning Without Frontiers’.
Year 13 students Robin, Mark and Jamie, as well as Year 11 student Humphrey, travelled to London with their ICT teachers, on Sunday 9th January after they were shortlisted for the National Y Factor Award for their innovative project called ‘Xbox Marks the Spot’. This involved designing a game to assist primary aged children in their transfer to secondary school.
The student team fought off stiff competition from around the UK, just to make it to the final. The awards ceremony was hosted by the Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury and the students had to present their project to a team of judges and an audience of nearly 2000 people. The team achieved 2nd place and were each given a Nintendo DS XL as their prize. They were also able to make contacts with industry representatives which will be very helpful for them with regard to their future career plans.
As a technology based conference, Twitter was used extensively to comment on the students’ performances. Tweets included the following:-
- @TonyParkin: All the student presenters have been awesome at the #LWF11 Y Factor, but the team from saltash.net have just raised the bar again!
- @rachelala: Blown away by this saltash.net team, so skilled, relaxed and professional, follow@saltashgamedev
- @MerlinJohn: Great to see sec students make transition easier for primary. saltash.net – designed game clever and considerate
Following on from the students’ success at the Learning Without Frontiers event, I was also up for a major Award on the Monday evening (10th January). This was for the schools ‘Recharge the Battery’ project which was contesting for an Award in the Secondary Education Innovation category. Representing saltash.net community school, we found ourselves up against Channel 4 and Sony, so was all the more delighted to take 1st place overall. The school was presented with a trophy and a Nintendo Wii system. Headteacher, Isobel Bryce, who also attended the Awards Ceremony, said, ‘It is fantastic that the work we are doing at a school in Cornwall is now receiving major recognition both nationally and internationally. I am very proud of all our students and staff.’
Great to tell about the success of the students at Learning Without Frontiers event,so this is a good thing that they learn without the frontier success,and the project is really an amazing one about Recharge the Battery,so this is interesting and also great for the students.Will give some great fun knowledge.