HUNDREDS of students will compete in a Rotary-sponsored technology tournament to be held at Bournemouth Collegiate School in March.

Around 40 teams from 14 local secondary schools are due to take part in the event, organised jointly by the Rotary clubs in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Highcliffe and Ringwood and supported by BAE Systems Christchurch and Marden Edwards Wimborne.

The annual event is for teams of four students with an interest in engineering, design, technology and science, to design and build a solution to an unseen technical task within a specific time frame.

The teams need to have good communication skills, be well organised and able to show the stages of development of their task solution in a design portfolio.

Each team’s solution as a working model is competitively tested and assessed by a team of judges. Recognition is given to the winning teams in each of three age categories.

The contest not only tests their technology skills but also counts towards a nationally-recognised qualification.

By taking part in the Rotary Technology Tournament, the younger students will be demonstrating many of the skills needed to obtain the CREST Discovery Award – Britain’s largest national awards scheme for project work in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

This award requires 10-14-year-olds to complete at least five hours work on a project in one day, which will be fulfilled the competition at the College Road,Southbourne school.

Organising chairman Dr David Chrichton of Bournemouth Rotary said: “We want the tournament to be both an enjoyable and successful educational day out for those taking part, and at the same time hope it will cultivate a keen interest in engineering.”

Last year students, who travelled from across Dorset and Hampshire, were challenged to build bridges and came up with some ingenious ideas.

The winning teams in the three age groups were from Bournemouth School, Bournemouth Collegiate School and Highcliffe School.