ESSEX pupils competed against one another in a series of tests at Raytheon UK’s first Quadcopter Challenge finale.

Pupils from Harlow’s Stewards Academy fought off stiff competition from other Essex schools Burnt Mill Academy, Boswells School and Tabor Academy to win the title after picking up the least penalties in the contest held at Stow Maries Aerodrome on 7 November.

The contest, hosted by Raytheon UK, took place as part of an on-going programme to promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers to pupils.

Using identical kits contestants designed and built quadcopters, otherwise known as drones, and were made to put their creations through a series of challenges.

Two teams from Stewards Academy – pupils Katy Briant, Anita Ogedengbe, Molly Gallaway and Bethan Rumsey piloting MAKAM as well as William Payne, Filip Kusnir, Shiv Sharma and James Clarke piloting APOLLO 13 – scored a combined winning total to claim victory for their school.

The competition, which ran from January, involved mentors from Raytheon UK supporting year 9 and 10 pupils on a regular basis, as part of the company’s sustained commitment to promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills.

Raytheon UK’s commitment to STEM supports the Employment and Skills Board, Education and Industry STEM Programme, delivered by Essex County Council. The programme currently supports 30 secondary schools across Greater Essex to develop a pipeline of suitably skilled young people in priority growth sectors such as Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing and IT.

Raytheon UK CEO Richard Daniel said: “We want to inspire the next generation to study STEM and encourage students into STEM-related careers with the aim of growing the talent pipeline at a national and regional level.”

This was the first such competition run by Raytheon and supported by the Employment and Skills Board encouraging pupils to progress into a STEM based career.

Cllr Penny Channer, Essex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Infrastructure, said: “This sort of event really brings to life STEM subjects for students. It is tremendously useful but also great fun for all involved. We hope that by running things like the Quadcopter Challenge we can attract more Essex youngsters into STEM subjects providing us with a well-qualified workforce for the future.”

A video from the day can be found at