St. Teresa’s Catholic Primary School in Hartlepool has achieved remarkable success in a national robotics competition, showcasing the dedication, teamwork, and resilience of its pupils. Led by Mr Ellis, the school’s Computing Lead, the team worked tirelessly to prepare their robot for the competition. With the unwavering support of Acting Headteacher, Mrs Leonard, students dedicated hours during lunch breaks, school hours, and after-school clubs to perfect their designs and programming. Despite starting later than many other teams — beginning their build in December while others had commenced as early as May - our pupils demonstrated extraordinary commitment.
The journey began with a regional competition at Nissan in Sunderland, where students gained valuable experience. Just two weeks later, they competed in Newcastle, where their exceptional performance secured them a place at the National Finals in Telford. Travelling in the early hours of the morning, our team embarked on a two-day challenge, working alongside other schools to score as many points as possible across 10 matches. Their outstanding efforts earned them a place in the top 10 teams advancing to the finals.
With hundreds of spectators watching, the competition intensified. St. Teresa’s held the highest score until the final rounds when a strong opponent matched their total, forcing a re-match. In a dramatic showdown, our team narrowly missed out on the UK Champion title by just one goal in the final three seconds, but their incredible teamwork earned them the Teamwork 2nd Place Trophy — a phenomenal achievement.
Throughout the competition, our pupils represented St. Teresa’s with integrity, resilience, and outstanding sportsmanship. This incredible journey was made possible with the generous sponsorship of Imagination Village in Hartlepool, and we welcome further support from businesses looking to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. Congratulations to our robotics team — we couldn’t be prouder of your achievements!