Around 200 pupils from across Jersey’s primary schools took part in the first ever STEM Racing Primary Finals in Jersey last week.
The Finals were part of a programme encouraging students aged 9-11 to design, engineer, and race miniature F1 cars.
Held at the Trinity Showground last week, the Finals saw 38 teams from eight different primary schools race miniature F1 cars they had designed and built out of card, launching them down a 20-metre purpose-built track powered by compressed air canisters.
After an exhilarating race day, the top three teams were:
- 1st Place: The Flaming Falcons LM (La Moye Primary School)
- 2nd Place: The Sharpies (Grouville School)
- 3rd Place: Takedown (FCJ Primary School)
A number of other awards were also presented, judged by a 16-member panel, recognising a broad range of skills and achievements across the design process and competition, including fastest car, best reaction time, branding, teamwork, research and development, and presentation.
The exhilarating race day capped off a five month journey, with schools running the programme inhouse using a supplied ‘Design and Build’ resource kit, step-by-step tutorials, and inspiring lunchtime or afterschool sessions with Digital Jersey’s programme lead, giving pupils everything they needed to bring their miniature race cars roaring to life.
STEM Racing was initially launched in Jersey in 2024 for secondary school students and continues to grow rapidly. This is the first year the Primary Programme has been delivered in Jersey.
Tony Moretta, CEO, Digital Jersey, said: “STEM Racing provides a fantastic platform for engaging the island’s young people in the practical applications of STEM subjects, and we’re really pleased to have been able to extend this global initiative to primary-aged children this year. Having seen them at the Finals on Friday, it’s clear they’ve worked really hard to learn the principles behind STEM Racing and had lots of fun in the process. Every child involved should be very proud of themselves.”
Matthew Corbin, CEO, C5 Alliance, added: “We are so pleased to have been able to support the expansion of the STEM Racing programme for primary schools this year, and it was truly inspiring to see such energy and enthusiasm on the day. We hope that every child comes away proud and inspired from the event.”
