Almost 80 primary school pupils from across West Yorkshire gathered at Bradford Grammar School (BGS) on Tuesday for a major robotics showcase, culminating in a six-month intensive outreach programme designed to widen access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in disadvantaged communities.
The showcase event, held in the school’s Price Hall, marked the completion of a regional partnership between BGS, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and rural broadband provider Quickline.
The initiative was launched after Quickline funded specialist LEGO Education robotics kits—worth several thousand pounds per school—for primary schools across Yorkshire designated as serving deprived areas. When the IET required a delivery partner to provide the technical training to unlock the kits’ potential, BGS’s Computer Science department stepped forward to lead the West Yorkshire roll-out.
Since January, Nadeem Asghar, Head of Computer Science at BGS, has hosted workshops to mentor teachers and pupils at schools, including Burley Oaks Primary, Long Lee Primary, Kirkstall Primary, Victoria Primary and Coop Academy Parkland.
“When we began, several of these schools had the equipment sitting in boxes since October because staff understandably lacked the specialist expertise or confidence to introduce coding and robotics,” said Mr Asghar. “Because of the immense success we’ve enjoyed with our own robotics programme at BGS, it felt like the absolute right time to give back to our wider community and build a meaningful bridge between our schools.”
The project formed part of the wider FIRST® LEGO® League Explore division, a STEM programme tailored specifically for primary-aged pupils. Over the last two terms, Mr Asghar was joined by senior BGS robotics students, including Year 12 national competitors Alex and Joseph, who travelled to local schools to act as peer mentors.
“Competing at a high level is fantastic, but our students have learned that inspiring the next generation is just as important,” Mr Asghar said. “For our Sixth Formers, going into primary schools and helping children navigate code has been incredibly rewarding. It has transformed how they view their own skills, shifting their focus toward mentorship and community responsibility.”
The showcase on Tuesday recreated the high-energy environment of a national robotics tournament. In total, 78 primary school pupils ran their custom-programmed robots head-to-head through a series of map challenges, followed by an IET-sponsored prize-giving ceremony celebrating every participating team. Representatives from Quickline and trustees from the IET were also in attendance.
Long Lee Primary School, one of the schools taking part in the initiative, praised the collaboration.
Headteacher Debs Ward said: “We were presented with an amazing opportunity, supported by Bradford Grammar School, which enabled our school to take part in an exciting, innovative and engaging programme. This experience has allowed our pupils to develop new skills while connecting with other young people in a supportive environment.”
BGS’s own robotics team is among the most successful in the country. Last year, students represented the UK at an international LEGO robotics competition in Florida. Earlier this month, the team travelled to Toronto, Canada, to compete in a 100-team global event, where they secured third place in the Innovation category.
“Inspiring the next generation is just as important as competing at a high level.”