VEX Robotics
Our KS3 VEX Robotics Journey
We the start of our robotics journey, I have been inspired to take the lead on this initiative, having previously organised and introduced the VEX STEM kits at my former school, JESS, based on my recommendations. When the opportunity arose at my current school, I was eager to continue fostering students’ interest in robotics.
However, we faced a significant challenge: we were given just one month to prepare for the VEX competition. Without access to a dedicated field and limited time to train students on the coding aspect, I had to think creatively. To ensure students were exposed to programming concepts without disrupting the planned curriculum, I incorporated VEX VR coding challenges into my Year 7 Computer Science lessons. Thankfully, we had a committed group of students who regularly attended both junior and senior robotics clubs, making it possible to prepare effectively despite the constraints.
The Competition
A highlight of the program was our participation in the inter-island robotics competition at the DART building in Camana Bay last Thursday. This event, held on a small scale for the first time, provided students with an invaluable chance to test their robots, refine their coding skills, and engage in friendly competition.
As each school was allowed to enter just one team, we had to eliminate a few keen students based on specific selection criteria:
✅ The best-built robot
✅ Completion of the automatic coding element
✅ Performance in manual skills based on the attached challenge
A last-minute hurdle arose when our best manual team member was unable to attend, despite having prepared diligently through numerous break and lunchtime sessions. This unexpected change required us to quickly adapt and adjust our strategy.
A huge congratulations to all the students and to the three students at the end stage seen below, who represented our school with incredible dedication and skill! Their participation set a strong precedent for future events, and we look forward to seeing this competition grow.
Looking Ahead
With the excitement of the competition behind us, we’re already looking ahead to new opportunities:
- In-School Robotics Competition (Term 3): We plan to host an in-house event to give even more students a chance to showcase their skills.
- Thursday VEX Club Continues: After the half-term break, the Thursday after school VEX Club will continue, allowing students to refine their skills and prepare for future challenges.
Additionally, we will soon be obtaining a dedicated field, making it significantly easier for students to practice challenges under real conditions. This will enable us to expand the automatic stage of robotics, with bespoke training on programming strategies such as distance-based movements and claw gripping techniques.
Looking ahead, I believe the next challenge will be of even higher complexity, and the more strategies students are exposed to, the better they will be at thinking outside the box. I also hope to connect with the winning schools to explore interschool competitions before the next final event, ensuring our students gain even more experience.
We are incredibly proud of all the students who have taken part in the robotics program so far and appreciate the continued support from parents, teachers, and the wider school community.
Below is more details about the first Senior Tech Challenge of 2025.
🚀 Exciting times for our KS3 VEX Robotics team! With just a month to prepare, our students tackled coding & building challenges head-on, culminating in an inter-island competition at Camana Bay. team and learn more about the journey: 🔗https://t.co/SbJTgZ2sX4 #VEXRobotics #STEM pic.twitter.com/Pfx6kR1HVS
— Mr Adam Masters (@MrAdamMasters) March 4, 2025