Northlands Primary dazzles at global LEGO robotics stage
These brick bosses from Northlands Primary School just snapped up success at the International LEGO Robotics Championship!
There are celebrations all around for Northlands Primary School as their team, Smooth Sailors, achieved top honours at the Open Africa Championship (OAC) of the First Lego League (FLL).
The league was held from 7 to 9 May 2025 in Cape Town and teams from 42 countries were in attendance.
Out of the 106 teams who were invited, globally, the Smooth Sailors from Northlands Primary School were the highest-ranked SA team. They earned second place in the “Core Values” category.
Principal Mr Alistair Naidu shared praise for the team’s amazing achievement, saying: “Smooth Sailors have not only made us proud as a school, but also as a country. Their recognition at an international level speaks volumes of their dedication, humility, and ability to lead with purpose. This is the kind of global excellence we are cultivating at Northlands.”
Team lead and coach Mr. Steven Kent shared that the First Lego League was more than just coding. “It’s a gateway to lifelong learning. We’re building a generation that is curious, empathetic, and eager to solve real-world challenges. Smooth Sailors have shown that South African youth can compete with the world’s best and excel,” said the proud coach.
Smooth Sailors team member Kirthan Cross expressed how life-changing this experience has been. “I made so many new friends from different countries and learnt how other teams approached the robot design and theme project in really cool and different ways,” he explained.
“We got to share our South African culture too, and I felt proud representing our country,” he added.
Last year, East Coast Radio spoke to Northlands Primary School to get a background on how they got into the LEGO League.
LEGO League, initially introduced as extracurricular, integrates seamlessly with Northlands’ academic curriculum, reinforcing STEM concepts in an engaging and practical way.
Students from Grades 4 to 7, chosen for their interest in robotics and problem-solving, work under the guidance of a dedicated Coding and Robotics team. They build and program LEGO robots, tackling complex challenges that push their ingenuity to the limit. Click here to read the full article.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
Image courtesy of Caroline Hockly, Marketing & Communication at Northlands Primary School
Have a similar story or something unique to share? Email us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you!