We want to celebrate a very talented and dedicated group of learners who have had a very exciting 2025-26 with Digital Teaching and Learning at the forefront.
Thistle Robotics, a team of S5 and S6 pupils from James Gillespie’s High School right here in Edinburgh have achieved international recognition after qualifying for the prestigious VEX Robotics World Championship 2026 in St Louis, USA. This event is the largest global robotics competition, with over 20,000 teams from more than 50 countries, and only the top 800 teams worldwide qualify to take part.
The team secured their place at the World Finals through an outstanding performance at the UK National Finals, where they were awarded the Think Award. This award is presented to the team with the highest standard of programming and software development, recognising the quality, efficiency and innovation behind their robot’s code.
Judges highlighted the sophistication of the team’s autonomous systems, including the development of their own odometry system, as well as their clear understanding of advanced programming concepts.
Following qualification, the team needed to raise over £16,000 in under six weeks to cover the costs of attending the World Championship in St Louis. They successfully achieved this through a range of fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign raising over £8,000, sponsorship from local businesses, and school-led events such as discos and raffles.
Throughout the year, the pupils dedicated significant time to designing, building and refining their robot. Much of this work took place beyond the classroom, with the team committing evenings and weekends (thanks to The National Robotarium for hosting them!) to testing, problem-solving and improving performance. Their efforts demonstrate not only strong technical ability, but also resilience, teamwork and a genuine passion for engineering and computing science.
This is the team’s second year competing in the VEX V5 competition and their third year participating in VEX competitions overall, having competed in the VEX IQ competition in their first year. They have reached the UK Finals each year, placing joint 5th place in 2024, winning the Judges’ Award in 2025, and achieving the Think Award in 2026.
As part of their preparation, the team developed skills across a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical and engineering design, programming, electronics, project management, teamwork and fundraising. The VEX Robotics competition presents a new challenge each year, requiring teams to redesign and rebuild their robot annually. Matches for V5 are played in a 2 vs 2 format, where alliances compete to score the most points while actively defending against their opponents, adding a dynamic and strategic element to the competition.
Their success is particularly notable as they are the only Scottish state school team to qualify for the World Championship this year in the VEX V5 competition. Qualifying for the World Championship places them among the top robotics teams globally and provides a unique opportunity to compete against and learn from peers across the world.
The trip to St Louis provided pupils with invaluable experience, allowing them to showcase their skills on an international stage while further developing confidence, collaboration and communication skills. The team progressed to the second round of judged interviews, with judges impressed by their depth of knowledge and understanding of both their robot and its programming. Representing Scotland on the world stage is a significant achievement, particularly as they are the first Scottish state school team to qualify.
This marks the final year of participation for many team members as they complete their time at James Gillespie’s High School, making this accomplishment and experience all the more significant. However, several pupils have expressed an interest in continuing their robotics journey by taking part in VEX U, a similar competition designed for university students.
Opportunities such as the VEX Robotics competitions play a key role in inspiring young people to pursue further study and careers in science, technology (computing science), engineering and mathematics (STEM). The success of Thistle Robotics reflects the strength of STEM education within Edinburgh schools and highlights the impact of providing pupils with opportunities to engage in real-world, project-based learning.
Huge well done to all involved!
For schools interested in getting involved, please contact Chris Meechan (chris.meechan@jamesgillespies.edin.sch.uk), who can provide information on available grants and guidance on participating in either competition (VEX IQ for ages 15 and under, and VEX V5 for ages 19 and under).
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