Technology Tournament 2020

Rotary Clubs from Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Lower Wharfedale again facilitated the 2020 Tournament. Schools taking part were Ashville College, Harrogate Grammar, King James’s, Nidderdale High, Ripon Grammar, Rossett School, St Aidan’s High, St John Fisher High and Wetherby High.

The students, working in teams of four in three age categories, were given a task and were supplied with basic materials such as card, wheels, pulleys, wood dowel, string and drawing pins. Students brought basic hand tools to use in the construction phase.  The task, which was secret until the day of the tournament, is based on the design and construction of a model. The model was scored against several criteria to establish the winner.

The difficulty of the Task increased with the age of the students in the teams involved, from Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 (Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced) respectively. In each age group an award was given for the best portfolio and a Gold, Silver and Bronze award for the three teams which provided the best solutions to the task.

Our own David Russell, who coordinated the Tournament, said, “The challenge combines a number of skills in a fun way. As well as design technology and making skills, the students have to call on innovation, team working, communication, problem solving, decision making, risk taking and creativity to achieve their goal. They also produce a written design and construction portfolio to show how they arrived at the finished model and finally demonstrate the working model to the judges under test conditions. They are marked on all these criteria”. 

In each age group an award is given for the Best Portfolio and a Gold, Silver and Bronze award for the three teams which provide the best solutions to the task. The Gold Award at Foundation Level was won by St Aidan’s High School, and at Intermediate and Advanced Levels by Ashville College, but all schools and their teams shared in the success of the day and can be proud of what they achieved.