Burry Port pupils flying high after Teen Tech success

Two teams from Glan-y-Mor School have won national recognition for their high-tech ideas.
They were the only school in Wales to reach the prestigious National Teen Tech finals.
The A Brains team of Charlie, Lewis and Bradley, all aged 13, won the transport category for their idea for a sensor guidance system for wheelchairs, which gives the user more independence and freedom.
Their award was presented to them by television presenter James May who said he was enthralled by their ideas and creativity.
Jennifer, Emily and Wikotoria, all aged 13, of Team Jewel developed an idea for a solar powered bench which provided a USB charging point and information point, and missed out on winning the environment category.
However they impressed a number of the judges including a senior manager from Network Rail who has asked to be kept in touch with the project’s progress as she felt it had huge potential.
The pupils had been working on the project for around five months, linking up with local industry, further education establishments, and a special school.
They had support from ambassadors from STEMNET, (the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) which aims to create opportunities to inspire young people in STEM.
Headteacher Paul Jones said: “The project has taken their learning outside the classroom and enabled them to develop a whole new set of skills.
“They were the only teams from Wales to reach the finals and the school was immensely proud of this achievement.
“Involvement in the competition has brought huge opportunities for the pupils of this small South Wales school and made them realise that they can compete with the best young minds not just in Wales but in the UK.”
The pupils won a cash prize for the school which will be used to develop STEM projects, the three boys also won a Virgin Day Experience flying lesson, and a VIP day to the Airbus factory at Broughton.
The boys have also been invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by HRH Duke of York in October, and are already planning the concept ideas for next year’s competition.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “Congratulations to Ysgol Glan-y-Mor on this excellent achievement, and for representing their school and Carmarthenshire so well.
“I look forward to hearing the progress of these projects and to seeing what ideas they come up with for next year’s competition.”