A team of Abbey Gate College students from Years 7 and 8 has successfully progressed to the second stage of the national RTX Quadcopter Challenge – a prestigious STEM competition that sees students across the UK design, build and fly a drone under the theme “Local Heroes.”

Our team, aptly named Wildlife Watch, was formed through the College’s Science Club and comprises four students: Thomas P (Y7), Noah H (Y7), John H (Y8) and Poppy B (Y8).

In Stage 1 of the competition, the team was tasked with designing a quadcopter to support local communities. Wildlife Watch impressed the judges with a creative and thoughtful concept for a drone that could monitor local wildlife in hard-to-reach areas, allowing for better data collection and wildlife protection. Their design aligned beautifully with Abbey Gate College’s wider commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness.

From more than 115 teams nationally, only a select few were chosen to progress to the next round – a significant achievement in itself. In a letter of congratulations, the organisers praised the strength of the team’s ideas and encouraged them to begin preparing for the next phase, Build and Fly, which will take place in September. Students will be working together to turn their designs into a working drone, all while adhering to Civil Aviation Authority regulations and responding to expert feedback received from the Stage 1 judging panel.

The competition continues beyond the build phase, with a Regional Final in October and a National Final scheduled for December.

We are incredibly proud of Thomas, Noah, John and Poppy – their innovation, collaboration and commitment to STEM are truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing their quadcopter take flight in the autumn!