PRIMARY STEM ROBOTICS

At APHS, we're passionate about inspiring young people to explore robotics, coding and engineering long before they reach secondary school. Building on our own success in LEGO robotics competitions—including representing the UK at the Robotex International Finals in Tallinn, Estonia—we created the Primary STEM Robotics Programme to bring these exciting opportunities to local primary schools.

Working with our feeder schools across North Norfolk, we've developed a programme that helps pupils build confidence in STEM, while giving teachers the resources and support to deliver engaging robotics activities in their own classrooms.

Many primary schools in our rural coastal community have limited access to specialist STEM equipment and computing resources. Thanks to generous funding from the Norfolk Community Foundation, Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon, APHS has been able to support schools by:

• Providing LEGO SPIKE Prime robotics kits and resource packs

• Delivering teacher training and ongoing support

• Loaning additional robotics kits throughout the year

• Developing lesson resources with our own Computer Science Ambassadors

• Expanding opportunities for more schools and pupils, including a focus on SEN and neurodiverse learners

Each summer, teams from local primary schools come together at APHS for our annual Primary Robotics Challenge. Using their own LEGO SPIKE robots, pupils put their coding and engineering skills to the test in a series of exciting challenges designed to encourage creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.

Challenge events

• Line Follower – Program a robot to complete the course as quickly as possible.

• Maze Challenge – Navigate a tricky maze with precision and control.

• To the Moon and Back – Use sensors and coding to complete increasingly difficult missions.

The event is supported by our Computer Science Ambassadors, who help run the competition, encourage younger pupils and share their own enthusiasm for robotics.

Our primary robotics programme grew from APHS's own successful robotics journey. Before launching Greenpower, students from our LEGO Mindstorms Club competed against schools across Norfolk, winning multiple regional titles in both Line Following and Sumo Robotics before qualifying for the Robotex International Finals in Tallinn, Estonia on three occasions.

That experience inspired us to create opportunities for younger pupils, giving them a pathway from primary school robotics to the wider STEM opportunities available at APHS—including Computer Science, Greenpower, Team Repair and national engineering competitions.

View an example of one of our APHS Students Robotics Projects here