Year 12 students have been celebrating success after completing an exciting engineering project in partnership with Bute Energy as part of their sixth form enrichment programme.
Working in teams, students were challenged to respond to a real-world engineering brief set by industry professionals. Their task focused on designing a conceptual wind turbine solution, requiring students to apply research, creativity and problem-solving skills to address challenges linked to renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
The project saw students investigate wind turbine technology, explore design considerations for renewable energy systems, and develop a final proposal and prototype to present to experts in the field. Through the process, students gained valuable experience of working collaboratively, thinking like engineers and responding to a professional brief set by a leading company in the green energy sector.
The culmination of their hard work came on Wednesday 22nd April, when the team attended the Presentation and Awards Ceremony at Swansea University Bay Campus. There, students presented their designs to an expert panel and competed alongside other schools for a range of awards.
St Cenydd students were nominated for the Best Appreciation of Environmental Issues Award, an outstanding achievement that recognised the team’s thoughtful consideration of sustainability within their design. Although they narrowly missed out on the final prize, assessors praised the group highly, commenting that it was clear they worked exceptionally well as a team and demonstrated confidence, professionalism and strong communication throughout their presentation.
The panel also spoke positively about the students’ future potential, noting that they could clearly see them succeeding in whichever careers they pursue, while encouraging them to consider pathways into engineering.
As part of the day, students also had the opportunity to tour Swansea University and gain a deeper insight into engineering degree pathways and careers in renewable energy. For one student, the experience proved particularly inspiring, sharing that the project had motivated them to apply for a university course in Green Energy.
This project has provided students with a valuable opportunity to develop skills beyond the classroom, including teamwork, innovation, research and presentation skills, while engaging with one of the most important global challenges of our time.
We are incredibly proud of the commitment, ambition and professionalism shown by our students throughout the project. Their nomination at the awards ceremony reflects the quality of their work and the bright futures ahead of them.
Congratulations to our Year 12 team on a fantastic achievement.
