Kent Primary Pupils Awarded Engineering Prize

Two Kent primary pupils have won a top engineering prize for inventing a remote-controlled turtle-shaped car.

Barnaby Vicks, 9, and Emily Aylett, 10, from Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School in Dover, were praised by judges at the Primary Engineering Challenge this month.

The engineers judging the prize gave Barnaby and Emily top marks for leading a team that designed and created the remote-controlled turtle car, which has turbo boosters and thrusters.

The competition was held at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Barnaby and Emily say they would like to have jobs that use creativity, technology and science when they are older.

“The experience showed us what it was like to be an engineer,” Barnaby said. “Turtles are normally slow, but ours has thrusters and goes really fast,” Emily said. “We would love to make a robot next.”

Rachael Williams, Science Leader at Temple Ewell, said the pupils had shown “great imagination and perseverance”. “We are incredibly proud of their achievement and excited to see what they create next,” she said.

Primary Engineering works with more than 1,200 schools across the country.

To listen to their interview on BBC Radio Kent, click here, and skip to 12:16.