Five Exeter pupils have wowed judges with an award-winning eco town model, scooping their fourth straight trophy in a sustainability competition
A group of inventive schoolchildren have claimed their fourth consecutive trophy after impressing judges with a visionary design for a sustainable town of the future.
Five pupils from Exwick Heights Primary School were crowned winners of the primary school category at the Ted Wragg Trust Innovation Competition, held at Exeter College's Future Skills Centre. Their entry was praised as "outstanding" by business and industry judges.
Frank, Sofia, Seb, Tim and Santana, all aged ten, created a detailed 3D model of a green community complete with kinetic-energy walkways, houses insulated with sheep's wool, hydrogen-powered transport and apps to reward residents for cutting their carbon footprint.
Frank, who acted as project manager, said: "We're really passionate about the environment and wanted to make something that could work in real life. I was amazed to find out moss could be used for insulation - I'd never seen it before. If all houses had it, we could capture a lot of CO₂."
The design also included communal vegetable gardens, beehives, bug hotels and chicken runs to promote biodiversity and food sustainability.
The team, who called themselves the "Eco Town Team", worked for six months, beginning with a visit to Den Brook Wind Farm before researching global technology and meeting experts.
Tim, who took on a designer role, said: "My favourite part was visiting the wind farm. I found out so much. I used to want to design buildings when I grow up, but now I want to design wind turbines."
Sofia, who researched ideas online and in books, added: "I loved making the model of our Eco Town to show what all our ideas would actually look like in a real place. I also learnt how to be more sustainable in my own life."
The competition, run by the Ted Wragg Trust in partnership with Exeter College and the Green Skills Advisory Panel, saw entries from 18 schools across Devon. Sponsors included E.ON, East Devon District Council and Willmott Dixon.
Teacher and innovation lead Fiona Lloyd-Seetim said: "We look forward to the competition every year and this was our best yet. We are incredibly proud of our pupils. Their professionalism, enthusiasm and energy throughout were outstanding and they delivered a confident and inspiring presentation."
The trust said the initiative is designed to bring real-world problem-solving into classrooms and inspire the next generation of innovators.
More information about the Ted Wragg Trust can be found at www.tedwraggtrust.co.uk and about Exwick Heights Primary at www.exwickheights.devon.sch.uk.