Sheffield students take part in robotics competition

UTC Sheffield computing students are getting ready to put their high level technical skills to the test by taking part in a national robotics competition. Two teams of Year 10 and Year 12 students will attend the event on May 10th at Silverstone UTC in Northamptonshire, which involves students from other UTCs.
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Sarah Clark, Principal, UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, said: “Taking part in these competitions provides an amazing opportunity for our students to apply their engineering, design and computer science skills to a sophisticated technical challenge.” She added: “There are employment opportunities in these sectors, and our students get a head start on their careers. They develop the skills that employers need by completing a technical qualification and industry set projects.”

Earlier this term, the students had a chance to hone their robotics skills when they took part in an event that attracted schools from across South Yorkshire, hosted at UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus. During the Vex Robotics competition, the students played games against other teams. These included programming a robot to get several objects over a fixed fence and a high hang challenge, where the robot had to lift itself from the floor.

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Student Joshua Hall, aged 17, who took part, said: “It’s really helped me with my communication and team working skills, and the development of ideas. I want to go into a career in software development and computing. I’m really enjoying my studies at the UTC. Being here has exceeded all my expectations, and it’s exciting to take part in these competitions.”

UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus on Old Hall Road, Attercliffe Common, was the host venue for the competition on February 17th, which was organised by Vex Robots, as part of students’ curriculum studies. Competitors had three months to design and build their robot prior to event.

UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus, for 14 to 19-year-olds, opened in September 2016. The £10 million facility specialises in computing, health sciences and sport science. Students complete technical as well as academic qualifications.

Sheffield’s first UTC – which is Ofsted graded ‘good’ - opened in September 2013. UTC Sheffield City Centre campus, on Matilda Street, specialises in advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative and digital.

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The Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce sponsor UTC Sheffield. It is supported by 50 other organisations including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Eagles, DBL Sharks Sheffield, SIV, Sheffield City Council, Goldfish Systems, Yoomee, Mundojumbo, The Better With Data Society, Home Office, Team Active, BirchenhallHowden, Scrapbook Development and Sero Consulting.

Places are still available in Year 10 and Year 12 for this September. To find out how to apply, and for more information on the next UTC Sheffield open evenings in March and April, visit www.utcsheffield.org.uk or call 0114 2603970. Follow us @UTCSheffield.