A school in Edgware has made waves on the international stage after two all-girl teams from North London Collegiate School (NLCS) represented the UK at the VEX Robotics World Championships 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
The teams from NLCS – located just past Stanmore on Canons Drive – were the only all-girl UK entrants at the global event, which brought together more than 30,000 participants from around the world, including teams from the US, Canada, Singapore and New Zealand.
North London Collegiate School, founded in 1850, has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence. This latest achievement adds to its legacy, highlighting its commitment to innovation and encouraging girls in science and engineering.
Robin Street, Director of Innovation at NLCS and a history teacher by background, accompanied the students to the championships.
“Over four extraordinary days, I watched our teams operate not just as engineers, but as strategists, communicators, negotiators, and teammates. They adapted tactics, presented to judges, built alliances, and supported one another after setbacks — and did so with humour, skill, and remarkable poise,” said Robin.
“Their technical knowledge was exceptional. But what set them apart was their ability to apply it in unpredictable, high-stakes contexts — under pressure, across cultures, and in real time. This is what 21st-century education demands: not just expertise, but agility, creativity, and collaboration.”
Andrew Duffey, Head of Engineering and School Partnerships at NLCS, added: “Until you see it, you don’t really understand it. These students aren’t just building robots — they’re building the skills that will define their futures.”
The school says the experience has already influenced future plans. A new cross-disciplinary initiative is being developed within the Junior School to encourage more girls to explore engineering and design, with collaboration planned alongside local state schools.
Robin continued: “What this experience confirmed for me is that innovation doesn’t belong to one subject. It lives in the connections between them — in the curiosity that bridges disciplines and inspires young people to think boldly and collaboratively. That is the essence of the Ideas Hub: a place where curiosity leads, and innovation follows.
“I didn’t return from Dallas as a robotics expert, but I did return with a renewed sense of what education can and should be. When students are given the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world, high-pressure contexts, remarkable things happen. Confidence grows. Ideas take shape. Futures shift.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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