Welcome to Rotary-Technology-Leeds.org
Technology Tournaments for Schools have been organised by Rotary Clubs across Great Britain over the last few years. One of these annual events is held in Leeds, and is organised by 11 Rotary Clubs working together. We welcome participation by Schools, and by Sponsors who assist with support and judging. Rotary's Youth Opportunities Programmes are aimed at improving the personal development and skills of young individuals. Sponsorship by industrial and commercial companies would be very welcome - contact details below.
Initial information about next year's Tournament now available
- see tabs on left hand side - Invitation to 2013 and 2013 Event.
STOP PRESS: This Year's Tournament on 6th March 2012 was a great success. Read all about it by clicking on the 2012 Event Tab on the left hand menu.
The winning teams were: Basic Task: Horsforth School (Team 2), Intermediate Task: Roundhay School, Advanced Task: Wetherby School. The Innovation Prize went to Leeds West Academy (Basic Team).
To hear a short report from Andrew Edwards on "Drive Time",
BBC RADIO LEEDS;
Click here
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO TOOK PART.
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Next year's Tournament will be on Tuesday 5th March 2013 - Will you be there?
Among the varied aims of Rotary is support of the local community, and to improve the personal development and skills of individuals.These skills and qualities are often badly needed by industry, which benefits by having innovative employees. In the Tournament, schools provide up to 3 teams of 4 youngsters, who tackle an unseen Design and Technology task. The whole event is completed during one school day. [See the 'year reports' for the sorts of task set].
The teams tackle a task, about which they, and their teachers, know nothing until the day. They are required to design, develop, build and then test a specified model from the very limited resources supplied, such as strip wood, dowel, paper clips, tape, wire, cardboard, glue, elastic bands etc. The results are judged by a panel of Rotarians and Industrialists with backgrounds in engineering, technology, enterprise and education.
For a taste of what the event is all about, see the reports of previous events, by clicking on the tabs on the left.
The Tournament is a challenge, but an enjoyable and rewarding experience for those taking part. We guarantee a good, interesting and fun day out, which will test the knowledge, ingenuity, innovation, application and manual skills of the participants, and their ability to work in a team.
Teachers also get a chance to participate, as an 'Advanced' Team, and can undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Schools can enter teams for the task at 3 levels - Basic (Years 7, 8 and 9 - age 11 to 13), Intermediate (Years 10 and 11 - age 13 to 15) and Advanced (Years 12 and 13 - age 15 to 18). Schools are sent details and an invitation to take part usually in the summer prior to the next year's tournament. The day is possible thanks to sponsorship from a number of sources, as well as the involvement of schools and their students as well as the Rotarians who take part in the running of the event.
Why the "Rotary Technology Tournament"?
We are concerned that young people are no longer being exposed to the true enterprise culture. Both these individuals and UK industry need such an outlook. Rotary is independent of the schools and is impartial. The tournament is seen as an enjoyable way of introducing the appropriate skills to those who have not been exposed to this culture, as may have happened in the past.
The number of Tournament Centres has expanded rapidly. The event started with Rotary clubs in the English Home Counties. In District 1040, we started in Harrogate (2002), followed by Halifax (2004), York (2005), Skipton (2006), Leeds, Batley and Bradford (2007), Catterick (2008) and Whitby (2009) .
Interested? - these contacts may be useful:
For Schools:
mailto:schools.contact@rotary-technology-leeds.org
For the event:
mailto:event.queries@rotary-technology-leeds.org
