Posted on / in 'If you were an engineer' Competition

A Night to Remember: Celebrating Local Pupils at The University of Southampton

These pupils had taken part in a UK-wide competition, run by educational not-for-profit Primary Engineer, where they answered the question “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”. Pupils aged 3-19 are tasked with interviewing an engineer before being asked to identify a problem in the world around them and drawing and annotating a solution and adding a letter explaining why an engineer should choose to build it!

All entries are read and graded by engineering professionals, with every single pupil who takes part receiving a named and graded certificate. They are graded based on the quality of the idea and the problem, large or small, that it is solving. Shortlisted entries are then sent to exclusive judging days where the invited judges, formed from leading industry and engineering professionals, select the designs to be celebrated at 25 regional Award Ceremonies.

The competition culminated on 10th June at The University of Southampton in an exciting regional public exhibition and award ceremony, where teachers, pupils, their families and industry professionals were invited to celebrate local ingenuity and create lasting memories. The shortlisted designs were displayed, and the winners and those who were highly commended were invited on stage to receive their awards, with a surprise award for the judge’s favourite at the end.

The highly commended and winning pupils were awarded trophies and framed certificates of their ideas, with 40 pupils from schools across our ‘South England’ region being celebrated.

Reception

  • Highly Commended – Cot by Emilia O, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy
  • Highly Commended – Tidy by Orla W, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy
  • Winner – Friends by Michelle A, St. James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Winner – Emma by Emma C, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy

Year 1

  • Highly Commended – A Tap by Clara L, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Highly Commended – Sooper Pen by Finnley F, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Winner – Cleans and makes water smell nice by River K, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy
  • Winner – Rubbish Muncher by Tom S, St James’ C E Primary Academy

Year 2

  • Highly Commended – Anti Bullying Robot by Malachi R, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Highly Commended – Bring back magic remote by Kayra, South View Infant School
  • Winner – Super allergy cutlery by India R, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Winner – Raise by Brice C, Home Educated

Year 3

  • Highly Commended – The Dog Sensor by Coben R, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Highly Commended – Fold – a – bed by Merryn W, Ascot Music School
  • Winner – Gill Skirt by Hadassah V, Cedar Learning Lab
  • Winner – The bee bot by Flynn S, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy

Year 4

  • Highly Commended – L.M.R.U Let’s make rubbish useful by Finley Y, Wellington College Prep
  • Highly Commended – Paper Helper by Rowan F, Shaftesbury CE Primary School
  • Winner – Multipurpose Pen by Aisha S, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Winner – Wheel chair with built in ramp by Primrose T, Shaftesbury CE Primary School

Year 5

  • Highly Commended – The Soil Checker by Millie S, Oxford High Prep
  • Highly Commended – Sensory Tent Kit by James G, World Schooling
  • Winner – The Swimming Stoma Bag by George B, St James’ C E Primary Academy
  • Winner – Container Floater Locater by Jake G, Home Educated

Year 6

  • Highly Commended – Pot Hole Filling Car by Thea N, Oxford High Prep
  • Highly Commended – Turtle hatchling pods by Edie S, South View Junior School
  • Winner – SFE Safer fire extinguisher by Rose P, Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy
  • Winner – Eco defibrillator by Ioan H, Canford Health Junior School

Year 7

  • Highly Commended – Hydropot by Emmeline L, Oxford High School
  • Highly Commended – Disabled saddle system by Isla J, Yateley Manor School
  • Winner – Vena by Nitia P, Oxford High School
  • Winner – Portable Dryer by Kai S, Sherborne Prep

Year 8

  • Highly Commended – Play maker football boots by Kieran H, Westmoors Middle School
  • Highly Commended – Play maker football boots by Albie W, Westmoors Middle School
  • Highly Commended – Metal Water Bottle by Humza F, Wexham School
  • Winner – AI Drone Fire Scout by Pippa J, Westmoors Middle School
  • Winner – Gaia Gear by Jones V, Cedar Learning Lab
  • Winner – Automatic Cushion Fluffer by Maryam M, Wexham School

Year 9

  • Winner – Human-pet Emotion Translator by Kavya P, Wexham School

Congratulations to all the pupils, including Hadassah V from Cedar Learning Lab whose idea “Gill Skirt”, stood out for the judges and won the special ‘Judges Award’.

Every year University and Industry Partners of Primary Engineer select an idea to turn into a working Prototype from the previous year’s shortlisted designs. The ‘Sea Boat Filter’ prototype was unveiled at the ceremony, brought to life by The University of Southampton based on the idea of Year 1 pupil, Mylah.

Thank you to our National and Regional partners for fully-funding this competition and helping us bringing engineering into classrooms in South England.

Relive the event highlight by viewing the full photo album on Facebook: Primary Engineer | Facebook

The 2026/27 Competition is Officially OPEN so get involved to experience the fun! Register for full competition access and resources here: https://leadersaward.com/resource-area-registration/

Primary Engineer Public Exhibitions and Award Ceremonies continue all over the UK through to July, with thousands of pupils engineering ideas being displayed for all to see. Find out more: https://leadersaward.com/exhibitions-and-events/