Over 140 students from 13 Essex schools competed this weekend for first place at the Essex Schools Rocketry Challenge 2015.

The competition took place on Saturday 16 May at Stow Maries Aerodrome and saw Shenfield High School win the coveted winners’ shield.

This was the Essex heat of the UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC 2015) which has been an annual national event since 2006. The challenge aims to inspire young people into careers within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sectors.

The competition was run as part of the Essex County Council Education and Industry STEM programme, in conjunction with the Essex Employment and Skills Board. The competition involved students designing, building and launching a model rocket housing two raw eggs. The rockets were required to reach a set altitude with specific total flight duration.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Cllr Kevin Bentley said: “ What a great example of how young people in our county are embracing the STEM sectors. Not only is a challenge like this fun and educational, but with the help of industry experts it has shown the students what exciting careers are available in these areas. Well done to all of the students involved.”

Shenfield High School won the competition with William De Ferrers and Great Baddow coming in as runners up. All three will now go through to the national final taking place at Stow Maries WW1 Aerodrome on Wednesday 3rd June.

Winners were presented by Suzanne Jude, Chair of the Essex Employment and Skills Board and the Chairman of Essex County Council, Cllr Norman Hume.

Cllr Hume said: "I was highly impressed, not only with the overall standard of the rocket launching performance, but with the real enthusiasm from all the competing teams. The Build a Rocket Competition is a real showcase of what can be achieved in a highly technical area of Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths and is a real credit to all those involved in encouraging, mentoring and supporting young people from around the County."

The schools that took part were are Basildon Lower Academy, Brentwood CH, Castle View, Chelmsford County High, Chelmer Valley, Great Baddow, James Hornsby, Shenfield, St Thomas More, Stewards Academy, Woodlands, Westcliff High for Boys and William De Ferrers. All teams were mentored by ambassadors from local industry.