INNOVATIVE inventors from a Greenock school triumphed with a treble at a top UK-wide competition.

Talented teenagers from Notre Dame High achieved top awards in both the manufacturing and education categories at the prestigious TeenTech awards in London.

Their teacher Karen Kelly also won the teacher of the year gong at the glittering ceremony.

She said: “The awards have been running for five years and we have been down at the final five years in a row and each year we have been a category winner.

“This year it has been the most successful yet as we had two teams invited down and they both achieved category awards.”

Mrs Kelly modestly passed on the credit for her award.

She said: “I don’t see that award as just for me, it’s for the whole technical department and our commitment to TeenTech, which is all about raising awareness of science, engineering and technology.”

Two teams of S2 pupils claimed awards for their inventions.
Niamh Day, Aimee Dougan and Eve Mitchell’s condiment dispenser paid off while Sophie Tucker and Grace Deveney were top of the pile for their app ‘My Note Learner’.

Grace said taking part in TeenTech was a fantastic experience.

She said: “It has made us more confident and given us the chance to speak out about our ideas and create our own projects.

“Its been a real eye opener to see what kind of careers are available in the future.”

David McEwan, principal teacher of technical studies at the school, said he was ‘really proud’ of all the girls.

The school’s success in the competition over the last five years has meant that they have been able to introduce a new subject.

Mrs Kelly added: “The prize for each award is £1,000 for the school so we have reinvested that in the department.

“So for the first time in 20 years we have been able to offer Engineering Science at Higher level.”

As part of their prize, the pupils will rub shoulders with royalty at Buckingham Palace soon.

Provost Martin Brennan visited the pupils to personally congratulate them on their success.

He said: “It’s a great achievement for the school especially the fact that they have done this in five successive years.”