S2 pupils shine in NESCol’s STEM challenge

June 10, 2026

Students from schools across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire have showcased their skills at NESCol’s annual STEM skills competition, with winners announced at last week’s finals.

Sponsored by Shell UK, teams of S2 pupils from the region competed in two stages of the competition, culminating in two finals.

The finals saw competitors take part in a series of STEM-based tasks, putting their problem-solving, teamwork and innovation skills to the test as they battled it out for the top spot.

The Aberdeenshire finals were hosted at Fraserburgh Campus on 2 June, where Tyler Cardno and Atika Belhaj from Banff Academy were crowned winners, and Murray Rae and Isla Sutherland from Turriff Academy took second place.

The Aberdeen finals followed on 4 June at the Energy Transition Skills Hub based at Altens Campus. Basil Pretheesh and Nicole Favo Arouja from Bucksburn Academy secured first place, while William Collier and Wissem Kail from Bridge of Don Academy were named runners-up.

Duncan Abernethy, Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Commercial Development, NESCol, said:

“A huge congratulations to all the pupils who took part in this year’s competition. They approached each challenge with enthusiasm and impressed us with their creativity and innovative thinking.

“Thanks to the continued support of Shell UK, NESCol has been able to engage thousands of pupils from 17 schools across the North East, providing valuable opportunities to get involved with hands-on STEM activities.

“The next generation will play a vital role in the energy transition and the future of the STEM sector, with a wide range of exciting career pathways available to them.

“By introducing young people to these subjects, we hope to inspire them to continue their STEM studies at school and consider pursuing careers in the sector.”

During the finals, the pupils worked in their pairs to solve a variety of challenges against the clock. Some tasks featured new technologies including virtual reality and robotics, while others involved more traditional engineering practices such as pneumatics. This is the 18th year that the competition has run.

Duncan Abernethy added:

“A special mention to Ian Runcie (Employer Engagement Manager) and Andy Maitland (Sponsored Initiatives Coordinator) at NESCol for their efforts in ensuring the challenge was a positive and engaging experience for all involved, alongside the support of Shell UK.

“We’re committed to supporting the pipeline from education to the workforce, and we are delighted to work alongside our partners to support young people on their journey into STEM careers.”