National woodworking competition receives record entries

A record number of entries was received for this year's National Student Woodworking Competition, with more than 250 entries from secondary schools and colleges across the UK assessed by the judges.

Gold, silver and bronze prizes were awarded at a special ceremony at the Design and Technology in Education Exhibition at the NEC by competition sponsor Fitchett & Woollacott, a supplier of sustainably-sourced timber to school design and technology departments.

This year, the judging panel decided to better acknowledge the pivotal role of the D&T teaching staff and so awards were made to a greater number of schools, irrespective of whether they produced an individual winner.

Jeremy Vibert, head of marketing and information at TRADA, presented the prizes to the successful students, their teachers and schools.

“It’s very encouraging to see such flair among young people in both the design and skilful use of a range of timbers," said Mr Vibert. "I’m delighted that there is so much commitment from schools in educating about the wonderful properties of timber as well as raising awareness of the need to use only sustainable resources.”

Winners in the three age groups were:

A Level
Gold Award - Michael Barber, Sackville School, Kent (laminated chair in beech)
Silver Award - James Borrell, Colchester Royal Grammar School (treasure chest in oak)
Bronze award - James Hale, Stowe School, Buckinghamshire (office desk in oak)

GCSE
Gold Award - David Holgate, The Campion School, Hornchurch (chess / coffee table in oak, teak and walnut)
Silver Award - Harry Byrne, St Albans School (food preparation unit in ash)
Bronze Award - Matthew Lari, St Illtyds High School, Cardiff (bedside cabinet in pine)

Years 8&9
Gold Award - Nadine Simmons, Oriel Specialist Maths & Computing College, Norfolk (coffee table in mahogany)
Silver Award - Hannah Smith, Debenham High School, Suffolk (storage box in Scots pine and iroko)
Bronze award - Chris Tunbridge, Warwick School (gorilla model in walnut and ash)

Each Gold Award winner received a Nintendo Wii console, Silver Award winners a personal media player and Bronze Award winners an i-Pod Nano. Each of their teachers was presented with a collection of Robert Sorby wood-handled chisels for their school workshop.

Schools which the judges considered to have shown the most consistent quality of entry as well as making the greatest effort in presentation of their woodwork pieces were:

1st – Kingdown Community School, Wiltshire
2nd - Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall, Staffordshire
3rd - Sir John Leman High School, Suffolk
4th - Archbishop Ilsley Catholic Technical College, West Midlands

Teaching staff from three schools - Honywood Community Science School, Essex, New College in Telford and the Royal High School in Bath – were highly commended.