INTO THE DEEP Qualifying Tournament highlights

The INTO THE DEEP qualifying tournaments have been a whirlwind of innovation, teamwork and engineering excellence. Our teams and volunteers have packed a punch with some standout moments to create an unforgettable season and set the stage for an epic UK Championship. 

From the UK’s first level three ascent by team Software Therapy in Northern Ireland, to the closest of close calls between three teams for the Inspire Award in Stoke and Champion Org Ambassadors close to tears out of pride for the communities they’ve created, the 2024-25 qualifier season has been our best yet. That’s not to mention a UK high score by Barking Abbey School and Norwood School of 204!

Our events were supported by a record number of FIRST volunteers, joining us from FIRST Lego League and FIRST Robotics Competition, growing our FIRST UK community. We also can’t forget our alumni volunteers who have given back to the FIRST community by supporting our qualifiers. Your expertise is second-to-none!

Explore our 2024-25 Qualifying Tournaments highlights album.

Inspire Award Winners and Winning Alliances

Cambridge Science Centre, East 1

Inspire Award – Trumpington Community College, Team Cipher, UK-425, 21207

Winning Alliance Captain – Chiswick School, Chiswick Cyborgs 2.0, UK-182, 28562

Winning Alliance Partner – Trumpington Community College, Team Cipher, UK-425, 21207

Cambridge Science Centre, East 2

Inspire Award – Cambridge Maths School, CMS Crabs, UK-700, 28435

Winning Alliance Captain – Alconbury Middle High School, Green Dragons, UK-429, 25759

Winning Alliance Partner – Alconbury Middle High School, Yellow Dragons, UK-170, 15469

Calderstones School, North West

Inspire Award – Calderstones School, Quarry Robotics, UK-172, 24908

Winning Alliance Captain – UTC Warrington, Technically Wired, UK-703, 28908

Winning Alliance Partner – St Anselm’s College, Virtual Memory, UK-491, 24752

Aston University Engineering Academy, West Midlands 1

Inspire Award – King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Girliebots, UK-674, 27907

Winning Alliance Captain – Perton Middle School, Team Snapwire, UK-063, 28534

Winning Alliance Partner – Mary Webb School and Science College, Wider Horizons, UK-537, 24967

American School in London, South East 1 

Inspire Award – American School in London, Phoenix, UK-235, 19280

Winning Alliance Captain – American School in London, Phoenix, UK-235, 19280

Winning Alliance Partner – Pimlico Academy, Pimlico Panthers, UK-081, 28535

SGS Berkeley Green UTC, South West 1 

Inspire Award – Lewis Girls’ School, Xbot, UK-507, 25059

Winning Alliance Captain – Lewis Girls’ School, Xbot, UK-507, 25059

Winning Alliance Partner – SGS Berkeley Green UTC, Berkeley Robotics, UK-384, 20992

St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, West Midlands 2 

Inspire Award – St John Fisher Catholic College, Circuit Breakers Vol 4, UK-035, 20981

Winning Alliance Captain – Denstone College, Something Went Wrong, UK-326, 22486

Winning Alliance Partner – Thomas Alleynes High School, Kraken the Code, UK-157, 25044

Sheffield Hallam University, Yorkshire and Humber 

Inspire Award – Derby Grammar School, DeGreeS of Freedom, UK-558, 25062

Winning Alliance Captain – Egglescliffe School, Vision Robotics, UK-373, 20995

Winning Alliance Partner – Mercia School, Mercia Roboctonauts, UK-475, 24650

Harris Academy Sutton, South East 2

Inspire Award – Nonsuch High School for Girls, Cassiopeia, UK-625, 27882

Winning Alliance Captain – Harris Academy Sutton, Fusion, UK-520, 25056

Winning Alliance Partner – Harris Academy Sutton, Drakon, UK-451, 22593

W5 Science and Discovery Centre, Northern Ireland 

Inspire Award – Royal Belfast Academical Institution, RBAI, UK-159, 21194

Winning Alliance Captain – Friends’ School, Software Therapy, UK-556, 25416

Winning Alliance Partner – Friends’ School, Digital Pancakes, UK-344, 28564

Langley Park School for Boys, South East 3 

Inspire Award – Norwood School, Norwood Industries, UK-378, 21196

Winning Alliance Captain – Norwood School, Norwood Industries, UK-378, 21196

Winning Alliance Partner – Langley Park School for Boys, Powercut Robotics, UK-497, 25268

Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland 1

Inspire Award – Boroughmuir High School, Photoelectric, UK-508, 28556

Winning Alliance Captain – Boroughmuir High School, Photoelectric, UK-508, 28556

Winning Alliance Partner – Boroughmuir High School, MuirTech, UK-538, 28557

National Robotarium, Scotland 2 

Inspire Award – Passion4Fusion, P4F Robotics, UK-541, 25357

Winning Alliance Captain – Fettes College, Fettes Robotics, UK-527, 25413

Winning Alliance Partner – Dunfermline High School, Bubble Blasters, UK-628, 27877

Bournemouth University, South West 2 

Inspire Award – Bournemouth School for Girls, Ultraviolet, UK-456, 22457

Winning Alliance Captain – Ferndown Upper School, Team Python, UK-085, 28536

Winning Alliance Partner – Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, Pieces of Eight Bits, UK-631, 27892

Oxford High School, South East 4 

Inspire Award – Harrow School, Euclid, UK-465, 28567

Winning Alliance Captain – Oxford High School, Cubotics, UK-459, 22487

Winning Alliance Partner – Holmer Green Senior School, H533bot, UK-533, 24951

We’ve seen teams come back each year to build on their progress, going from being a new team, Inspire Award runners-up, Inspire Award winners and now competing at our largest UK Championship ever. 

Thank you to all of our teams, team leads, mentors, partners, alumni, Youth Ambassadors, Game Changers, Champion Organisations and community supporters for making this a season to remember. It’s not over yet!

We can’t wait to see our epic teams back at the UK Championship on 26 and 27 June 2025 at the London Copper Box Arena!