Four Teignbridge students have blasted to international recognition after a rocket they designed and built came second in an international aerospace competition.

Kaya Surman (15), Tom Porter (15), Keith Edwards (14) and Sammy Porter (13) from Teignmouth Community School (TCS) represented the UK at the International Youth Rocketry Challenge at the Paris International Air Show on Friday (June 19).

Competing as Team Star-Ling, the team from TCS Rocket Club achieved 32.44 points and missed out on the world title by just over a point. The competition was won by the US team (31 points) with France coming third (188.96 points) and Japan coming in fourth (328 points).

‘We’re incredibly proud of the team’s performance—coming second by just 1.44 points at the International Youth Rocketry Challenge was a phenomenal achievement,’ commented TCS tech teacher and rocketry club leader Mark Hawker. ‘The students gave it everything they had, and although it was tough to come so close to first place, they handled the result with real maturity and pride.’

Kaya, Tom, Keith and Sammy won the all-expenses paid trip to take part in the international competition in Paris after beating 165 other teams to win the UK Rocketry Championships (UKRoC) last month.

Team Star-Ling used their engineering, problem-solving and teamwork skills to build a rocket that could safely take two raw eggs 765 feet up in the air before returning them, unbroken, back to earth - all in a specified flight time.

The students presented their design and flight data to an international panel of aerospace professionals and were able to speak with astronauts and US Air Force pilots.

TCS has only had a rocketry club for three years and it has reached the UK Rocketry Championships final every year. ‘This year, we had two teams qualify—an incredible achievement. Our main team took first place, earning the honour of representing the UK internationally, while our junior team placed third, showing the depth and future potential of our Rocketry Club,’ Mark said.

TCS Rocketry Club is currently the only team from Devon to compete in UKRoC. Until this year, it was the only team from Devon or Cornwall ever to reach the national final, let alone the international final.

The club was set up after John Wheddon from UKRoC visited the school and introduced the competition. John stayed on as the team’s mentor for just over a year and played a key role in getting the club off the ground. ‘Sadly, John became ill and passed away in January this year. This year’s rocket is dedicated to his memory,’ Mark explained.

The Star-Lings were supported in Paris by UKROC rocketeers Dave Tranter and John Jacomb who guided and supported the team throughout the event.

‘We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have such great support from our school, who have encouraged the team throughout. We’re especially thankful for the amazing support from our families, who join us at test flights and travel with us to competitions across the country—it’s made a huge difference to the students and the club as a whole,’ Mark continued.

‘We’ve come away from the international final feeling proud, inspired, and more determined than ever. The experience was truly unforgettable, and it’s amazing to see how far the team has come in just three years.’