The next chapter: Local schoolgirl is ‘over the moon’ with her winning reading bench design
Three big cheers for Millie Devlin-Munroe, who recently won a competition to design a reading bench for her primary school.
That’s brilliant! Well done, Millie! Let’s make those four big cheers instead.
Millie’s design was the overall chosen entry at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School in Seaham – which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust (BCCET) – for the annual Ambic STEM Challenge competition.
An exciting way to explore STEM
Bespoke furniture manufacturers, Ambic, based in the North East, launched the competition in 2022 to encourage schools to design their own piece of educational furniture.
At no cost to the schools, the winners have their designs turned into a real piece of furniture. How amazing is that?
The competition finalists are offered a full STEM day where the children are taught about manufacturing roles and processes, and given a challenge to build a self-supporting structure with limited materials.
Millie, who is now a Year 7 pupil at Peterlee’s St Bede’s Catholic School & Byron Sixth Form College, which is also part of BCCET, said: “I really enjoyed the process from my first design and taking part in the STEM day at school, to visiting the factory and making decisions in the design options.
“The best part was going back to St Mary Magdalen’s and seeing my completed bench! I hope it inspires future children at St Mary Magdalen’s to read and know anything is possible.”
Core memories made for the whole school
The school took part in the Ambic STEM Challenge in the spring term and were told in the summer that Millie had won the competition. We bet that day felt extra sunny!
During the summer holidays, Millie was busy working with the manufacturers at the Ambic factory to make the bench, and the finished item of furniture was delivered to the school in December. What a fantastic Christmas present for the whole school family to enjoy.
The new reading bench will form part of the school’s new reading area.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “We were delighted to hear about Millie’s triumph in this unique competition. A fantastic achievement that reflects well on the whole school. Well done, Millie.
“The Ambic STEM Challenge is a brilliant idea and should be celebrated in itself. Pupils need as much hands-on experience as possible, especially when it comes to STEM topics, and this competition is a fun way to build enthusiasm and motivation while developing key skills.”
Head Teacher Andrea Goodwin said: “The Ambic STEM Challenge tied in really well with our STEM objectives for British Science Week, so it was a great way for the whole school to be involved in a project.
“Millie created a fantastic design and was our school’s overall winner, so we entered Millie’s design as our entry. We were absolutely thrilled to find out she was shortlisted and the whole community got involved to promote and vote for it.
“When we found out she won, we were thrilled for Millie. She was absolutely over the moon; it was a lovely boost for her. Millie went to Ambic’s factory to see the finished product.
“Ambic has been very supportive and came in to hold a STEM event with the Key Stage 2 children. It was an amazing day and they still talk about it now!”
Fantastic news. Well done to Millie and the wider school community for their support throughout this unique opportunity.
St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School Programme click here.
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