STUDENTS across Basingstoke schools and colleges took part in a technology tournament to 'further their love of technology'.

The tournament, held at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT), and organised by the Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club, saw key stages 3, 4, and 5, students compete in challenges to design and build a battery-powered device.

The groups of four then had to test their device on a piece of a string, to get it from one side to the other, whilst carrying a weight.

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Basingstoke Gazette: Aldworth pupils

Pupils from Testbourne Community School, Aldworth School, Queen Marys College (QMC), and BCoT, battled it out for first-place trophies.

Oakley Williams, a member of Testbourne team two in year 10, said the day was "really fun". He added: "I like meeting other people at these events.

"It's quite funny that even though our other team is the same school, we are still competitive. It [the device] is going to work, we are quite enthusiastic."

The competitive spirit continued with Charlie Owens, a first-year student at QMC, saying "I reckon we are going to win. Our biggest rivals are probably other QMC kids."

QMC student Claire Hyland said: "We love it, it's been good. My favourite bit is when it actually works. We just want to win to get those trophies."

Olivia Bayliss, a year 10 Testbourne pupil, said the task was "quite challenging".

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Basingstoke Gazette: QMC students

A team from Aldworth was declared the winner with four trophies for best foundation portfolio and design, as well as best intermediate portfolio and design.

QMC took away two trophies for best advanced portfolio and design.

Jen Newell, head of design and technology at Aldworth, said: "I'm really happy, it's brilliant. They've worked really well, and they were the cherry-picked best of the best, picked for their DT skills."

Organiser of the event, Margaret Macklin, secretary at Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club, thanked everyone who helped make the event a success, adding: "It was great to see the students from local schools and colleges participate in the Rotary Technology Tournament again this year.

"The tournament is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) accredited. 

"I found it amazing and very rewarding to watch the students working together, in teams, to complete the challenge to design, build and test a mobile device completely from start to finish."