Since January, they have been working tirelessly to develop a project aimed at revitalising the high street. Their hard work paid off when they were selected as finalists and invited to present at the National Final Showcase, held at the Institute of Technology in Swindon.

At the event, our students impressed a panel of 17 industry professionals from leading organisations, including Nationwide, CoForge, and DiversITy Talent. They presented a remarkable range of creative work, including a fully designed website, posters and business cards, a custom-built video game with original music, promotional videos and podcasts, and a fictional persona that told the story of their development journey. One of their standout projects was an immersive Virtual Reality high street, featuring all original designs and 3D models.

What made their presentation even more impressive was the inclusion of physical prototypes and printed materials to support their ideas. As one judge commented, “It’s inspiring to see tangible work — not just concepts on a screen.”

Beyond their presentations, the students explored the state-of-the-art facilities at the Institute of Technology. They visited the cutting-edge Esports Centre, professional TV and film production studios, hands-on engineering workshops, and a futuristic digital welding environment.

The day was packed with exciting challenges, including a team activity where students programmed and flew drones through an obstacle course using block coding. They even experienced being interviewed by the Institute’s marketing team, gaining valuable real-world experience as tech professionals.

Throughout the day, our STEAM students demonstrated creativity, confidence, and resilience. Many shared how the experience helped them grow. One student asked eagerly, “Can we do this again?” while another said, “I was really nervous at the start… but I grew into it!”

Mr Hatherley, our STEAM Co-Ordinator, expressed his pride in the team’s efforts: “It’s amazing for their efforts to be recognised by professionals from the industries they dream of joining. They’ve been praised all day for their passion and hard work — and it’s thoroughly deserved.”

We couldn’t be prouder of the team for representing our school so brilliantly. This experience has fuelled their passion for technology, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next.

Well done, STEAM team — the future of tech is definitely in good hands.