News in Brief

Make IT Happen 2008 winners announced

Schools representing London, the South West and Wales have been named overall winners in the Make IT Happen 2008 challenge, a competition initiated by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and organised by e-skills UK and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The winners were announced by the Lord Speaker, the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman at a special awards ceremony in Westminster yesterday.

Make IT Happen 2008 called on primary school pupils aged nine to eleven to use technology, such as audio-visual materials, web pages or interactive posters, to describe how they would change an aspect of their local community for the better.

Three overall winners were chosen from twelve winners representing Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and each of the nine English regions.

The overall winner was St Mary of the Angels RC Primary School from London who designed a website about saving the environment. Penpol Primary School from South West England received the prize for second place with a film and original song encouraging people to take up sports, and Ysgol Glanwydden School in Wales picked up third prize for their use of technology in encouraging local councillors to open a Junior Youth Club.

The judging panel included Lord Toby Harris of Haringey as Chair; Stephen Darvill, Government Relations Director, Logica; Liwei Lee, Software Engineer, Google; Karen Price, Chief Executive, e-skills UK; and Robin McGill, Chief Executive, IET.

Andrew Miller MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston and Chairman of PITCOM said: "The twelve winning entries highlight the excellent work with technology going on in the UK’s primary schools.  Examples include using ICT to change attitudes to the environment, building global relationships with other schools, and creating films and animation. We are delighted that Make IT Happen 2008 is enabling us to recognise and celebrate the best of this work." 

Karen Price, Chief Executive, e-skills UK said: "It's very inspiring to see what young people can do when they are given access to technology. The winning Make IT Happen projects demonstrate how technology can harness the natural energy and enthusiasm young people have. The competition has provided an opportunity for students to stretch their imaginations and learn how technology can make a positive contribution to their world, while at the same time acquiring valuable skills for the future."

For more details and a full list of winners, visit www.cc4g.net/makeithappen

Posted on 16 Oct 2008