STUDENTS from one of Royston’s middle schools scooped two awards after pitting their wits against dozens of pupils in a technological tournament.

Hannah Bennett, Mae Hughes, Thaun Sol Costa and Jamie O’ Conner, from Roysia School, won the overall award as the most innovative team and the basic challenge commendation in the middle school bracket.

Each team had to solve a problem involving the removal of a container of dangerous chemicals from a railway line at the contest held last Wednesday at the Cambridge Motel.

Dave Carter, head of design and technology at the school, said: “I’m immensely proud, that’s the best way of putting it.

“We repeated the same result as last year but this year’s more commendable because it was a harder challenge.

“I encourage a lot of thinking outside the box, I encourage a lot of that to solve challenges that I give to them in school, a lot of this goes on in other areas of the curriculum.

“We also do a lot of group work, and that’s the winning formula.”

22 teams from six schools, including another two teams from Roysia School, had a limited time to finish the puzzle and were tested on their design and building skills.

The competition was organised by Royston’s Rotary Club and their president praised all who entered.

Jonathan Berks said: “All the schools involved impressed the judges.

“The teams entered into the spirit of the competition with enthusiasm and determination and showed plenty of inspiration in solving the problem which had been set.”

“There were some outstanding designs and each team can be proud of their achievements,”

A team from The Meridian School, Royston, made up of Josh Tilmouth, Esther Jackson, Sam Reddan and Wes Washington, took the advanced award.