Year 12 students are celebrating a major achievement after being crowned winners of the Westcoast Bright Sparks Stellar Award, securing an incredible £25,000 worth of technology to bring their “Classroom of the Future” vision to life.

The competition, which launched in October 2025, invited Computer Science students to develop innovative ideas focused on technology and sustainability in education. Out of an original field of 16 schools, Little Heath was shortlisted in January 2026 as one of just five finalists. The team then submitted a detailed business plan, a professional presentation, and a supporting video ahead of the final judging stage.

You can watch the video here: YouTube | Westcoast Bright Sparks Competition Video 2026

The live finals took place on Tuesday 24 March 2026 at Westcoast’s headquarters in Theale, where finalists delivered presentations and faced a panel Q&A. Following an impressive performance, Little Heath’s team was announced as the overall winner, taking home a cheque to spend on £25,000 of technology to bring their business plan a reality.

The winning team - Devon M, Atharv S, Trisha B, Jasmai T and Vlad P, impressed the judges with their project, titled “Classroom of the Future”. Their presentation and business plan showed a strong focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and practical implementation.

The Classroom of the Future

The team’s idea aims to significantly reduce paper usage across the school by transitioning to a more digital approach to learning. Their proposal highlights both environmental and financial benefits, addressing the widespread use of paper for worksheets, homework, and assessments—many of which are used once and discarded.

Their vision includes:

• Delivering lessons through digital resources
• Allowing students to complete work electronically
• Storing all lesson materials on a centralised platform such as Google Drive

By doing so, the project supports a more environmentally friendly school while also improving organisation and accessibility for students.

Making Technology Accessible for All

A key element of the proposal is inclusivity. The team recognised that not all students have access to personal devices, and their plan ensures equal opportunities by providing school-owned tablets.

With the £25,000 prize, the school will receive approximately 130 tablets and styluses, which will be allocated to:

• Sixth Form study areas
• Year 12 and 13 Geography, Further Maths, and History classes
• KS3 and KS4 SEN students

This targeted approach ensures the technology has maximum impact where it is most needed.

A Sustainable and Responsible Approach

The team also developed a thoughtful system to ensure the longevity of the devices. This includes a “tablet licence” scheme, inspired by primary school pen licences, where students must demonstrate responsible use.

To further protect the devices:

• Tablets will remain on-site in classrooms and study areas
• A behaviour-based points system will regulate access
• Clear accountability measures will be in place for damage

These strategies not only reduce costs over time but also help tackle e-waste—an issue closely aligned with Westcoast’s environmental goals.

Positive Feedback from Students and Staff

Feedback from across the school community has been overwhelmingly positive. Students welcomed the flexibility of digital note-taking and the move away from loose paper, while teachers highlighted the benefits of reduced printing, improved organisation, and increased classroom space.

The team also conducted research into paper usage across key departments, reinforcing the need for change and demonstrating the real-world impact of their proposal.