A robotics team from The Folkestone School for Girls has been selected to represent Great Britain at the international FIRST Global Challenge in South Korea later this year. The five-student team, known as Team Meglabyte, will travel to Incheon for the competition held from 7 to 10 October 2026.
The students secured their spot after navigating a rigorous national application process that was open to all robotics teams across Great Britain. The selection required the submission of a video, a detailed portfolio, and a series of interviews. The team is supported by their lead sponsor, Grade Mobile.
This year, the competition focuses on the theme Igniting Innovation, which challenges students to develop robotic solutions for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery. Team Meglabyte will spend the summer months building and refining their robot in preparation for the global event.
The team is led by their mentor, Mr Eke, a teacher at the school who was recently named Careers Professional of the Year at the 2026 Kent Education Awards on 21 May 2026. Beyond the competition itself, the students share a goal of promoting science, technology, engineering, and maths, while working to break down barriers and stereotypes within these fields.
The school has a long-standing history of success in technical competitions, including achievements in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Teentech programmes. By participating in this event, the students aim to serve as international ambassadors for science and technology.
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