Montsaye Academy students race to National STEM success
Students from Montsaye Academy are celebrating after being crowned National Champions in the 2026 STEM On Track challenge, beating more than 100 teams from across the UK.
The STEM On Track is a national challenge for young people in Years 7-11 that sees students design, build and race their own go-karts, putting their engineering knowledge, teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test in a competitive, real-world setting. Montsaye’s team committed months of dedication to the project, meeting weekly after school to develop their kart and prepare for the national finals, at Whilton Mill Karting Track, on June 20th.
Their hard work paid off on race day, where Montsaye students delivered an outstanding performance to secure the national title. The achievement highlights the strength of the school’s STEM provision and its focus on developing not only academic success but also character and teamwork. The team are now set to enjoy a visit to the BWT Alpine Formula One Team factory in Enstone as a reward for their success.
Throughout the competition, students demonstrated the school’s core values of respect, honesty and compassion. Team members worked together across a range of roles, supporting one another and recognising the importance of every contribution. When faced with setbacks, they were open and honest in reviewing their performance, learning from challenges and continually improving.
The team was supported by staff members Stephen Chandler, Andrew Turner and Ellie Bates, who helped guide students in combining technical expertise with a passion for motorsport.
Year 10 student, Lewis, who took part in the project said: “Being part of the STEM On Track project has been enjoyable and has helped me build my confidence. I’ve learned lots of new skills, worked with other students, and had opportunities I wouldn’t normally get. Winning the project this year was an amazing feeling, and I’m proud of what our team achieved together.”
Stephen Chandler, a Science teacher at Montsaye Academy who co-led the project, added: “We are incredibly proud of the group for the dedication and effort they have shown throughout the year. They have embraced the project with enthusiasm, displaying fantastic commitment every step of the way. Through their efforts, they have developed new skills, tackled challenges, and worked brilliantly as a team, all while maintaining a real sense of enjoyment. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with them, and they have certainly set the bar high for future groups. Winning this year’s STEM On Track project is a fantastic achievement and one that they thoroughly deserve.”
Montsaye Academy, part of United Learning, is already looking ahead to next year’s competition and hopes to build on this success, inspiring even more students to get involved in STEM opportunities.