REPTON PUPILS WIN NATIONAL ICE ENGINEERING AWARD FOR SOLAR FARM PROPOSAL
We are delighted to announce that four talented Lower Sixth pupils from Repton School – Fisayo A, Martin I, Thomas S, and Arthur B – have won national recognition in the CityZen Engineering Competition 2025, hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Their award-winning proposal imagined a pioneering elevated solar farm on the floodplain between Repton and Willington. By raising solar panels above anticipated flood levels, the team transformed an often-unusable site into a dual-purpose space for both renewable energy generation and sustainable livestock grazing.
This forward-thinking design addressed climate resilience whilst showcasing how engineering can serve both environmental and community needs. Their submission – featuring a short video and detailed presentation – impressed judges for its technical depth, environmental innovation, and professional communication.
National Recognition: Loud Speaker Special Prize
We are thrilled to share that the team has been awarded the Loud Speaker Special Prize – a new national award introduced by ICE to celebrate excellence in science communication.
Out of hundreds of participating schools, Reptonians have again stood out on the national stage. This recognition follows our overall national win in 2024, cementing Repton’s growing reputation for excellence in engineering and STEM education.
As part of the prize, our pupils have been invited to attend a prestigious celebratory lunch in London with the ICE’s Senior Vice President. Beyond the immediate honour, this award offers a powerful enhancement to each pupil’s UCAS application and future career prospects in engineering and related fields.
Dr Ingleston-Orme, Repton’s Head of Science, praised the team’s success: “I’m absolutely delighted that our pupils have been awarded the Loud Speaker Special Prize. The CityZen competition gave them a unique opportunity to think and act like civil engineers, confronting real-world challenges and crafting innovative, sustainable solutions.
From project design to stakeholder engagement and public presentation, they developed key engineering skills and gained invaluable experience. CityZen has genuinely sparked their interest in the profession and shown them the real-world impact engineers can make.”
The team also reflected on their journey: “CityZen has been an incredibly rewarding experience. We are thrilled that ICE recognised our creativity, analysis, and teamwork. This opportunity has inspired us and confirmed our passion for sustainable engineering. We’re very grateful to our mentor, Divannia, and everyone involved in supporting young engineers.”
Repton School is immensely proud of this outstanding team and their commitment to environmental innovation, collaborative problem-solving, and excellence in STEM. Their achievement not only showcases the talent of our pupils but also reflects the school’s emphasis on real-world learning, industry partnerships, and future-focused education.