Outstanding engineering students at a Cumbrian school have won an award for their success in a national scientific scheme.

Year 12 pupils at West Lakes Academy in Egremont were recognised for their work in the Engineering Education Scheme in England programme.

The scheme links teams of four students and their teacher with local companies to work on scientific, engineering and technological problems.

Keiron Hodgson, Sam Nugent, Faris Redza and Amber Whyte received the Nissan Trophy for best overall performance during a ceremony at Newcastle University.

They worked with Ian Wills and Nick Kennovin, from the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR), on a project entitled ‘Container Grout Curing Process’.

“The students have worked diligently on this project for the last six months, coping with both their school work and the demands of the project after school,” said Dr Sandie Dixon, a science teacher at the academy. “They have impressed me, the LLWR engineers and the Newcastle University technicians with their enthusiasm and professionalism.

“This is a tremendous and well deserved achievement.

“Their success reflects the extraordinarily high standards of their verbal and written presentation skills as well as their science and engineering abilities.”

The students competed against over 30 teams from across Cumbria and the North East and presented their final solution and written technical report to a panel of senior professional engineers.

Head of nuclear safety cases at LLWR, Ian Wills said: “It was a pleasure to work with the students from West Lakes Academy. Their team spirit and hard work paid dividends and they were very worthy winners.”

The programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth experience of STEM subjects, which will enable them to make decisions about their future studies and career.