Awards Ceremony 2008

Make IT Happen 2008 Winners Announced

Schools representing London, the South West and Wales have been named overall winners in the Make IT Happen 2008 challenge, a competition initiated by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and organised by e-skills UK and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

The winners were announced by the Lord Speaker, the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman at a special awards ceremony in Westminster on Tuesday 15th October.

Make IT Happen 2008 called on primary school pupils aged nine to eleven to use technology, such as audio-visual materials, web pages or interactive posters, to describe how they would change an aspect of their local community for the better.

The Winning Entries

Three overall winners were chosen from twelve winners representing Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and each of the nine English regions.

First prize was awarded to St Mary of the Angels RC Primary School, London. The students of St Mary of the Angels designed a website about saving the environment. This included a rap video about saving water and competitions and puzzles to raise awareness within the local community about what people can do to help save the environment.

Penpol Primary School from South West England received the prize for second place with a film and original song encouraging people to take up sports and be more active. Using a Flash Macromedia package, students were able to ‘free draw’ characters participating in sport. The film is now on the Sport Relief and YouTube websites.

Third place was rewarded to Ysgol Glanwydden school in Wales. Pupils at Ysgol Glanwydden used technology to show how boredom can lead to anti-social behaviour and presented their ideas to local councillors to encourage them to open a Junior Youth Club. Ysgol Glanwydden students used a range of technology including PowerPoint, Text-ease and film to communicate their ideas.

The judging panel included Lord Toby Harris of Haringey as Chair; Stephen Darvill, Government Relations Director, Logica; Liwei Lee, Software Engineer, Google; Karen Price, Chief Executive, e-skills UK; and Robin McGill, Chief Executive, IET.

Make IT Happen judge Stephen Darvill said:

“I was delighted to see ICT used as an integral and key part of bigger programmes of education within the schools and the wider community. 

I applaud the obvious wide involvement of the children in the projects, producing material to a very high standard and developing the children’s skills in art, music, communication and technology. 

Their evident enthusiasm and enjoyment, and their natural incorporation of ICT into other activities, should be an inspiration to all of us.”

Andrew Miller MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston and Chairman of PITCOM said:

“The twelve winning entries highlight the excellent work with technology going on in the UK’s primary schools. 

Examples include using ICT to change attitudes to the environment, building global relationships with other schools, and creating films and animation.

We are delighted that Make IT Happen 2008 is enabling us to recognise and celebrate the best of this work.” 

Karen Price, Chief Executive, e-skills UK said:

“It’s very inspiring to see what young people can do when they are given access to technology. The winning Make IT Happen projects demonstrate how technology can harness the natural energy and enthusiasm young people have.

The competition has provided an opportunity for students to stretch their imaginations and learn how technology can make a positive contribution to their world, while at the same time acquiring valuable skills for the future.”

Robin McGill, IET Chief Executive, said:

“I would like to congratulate all the winning entries in the Make IT Happen competition.  It is crucial that young people are offered all opportunities possible to explore science and technology during their education.

Science and technology opens up endless opportunities for exciting and rewarding careers, and challenges like Make IT Happen are crucial in bringing the subject to life in the classroom and making it interesting and relevant to our young people.”