Who we are
Thistle Robotics is a group of S5 and S6 pupils from James Gillespie’s , a council funded high school in Edinburgh.
In February 2026 they battled 48 teams from across the UK at the Vex V5 Robotics UK Final, and won the Think Award for the best programming in the event.
This incredible achievement has won them a place representing the UK at the VEX Robotics World Championships in St Louis, Missouri, 21- 24 of April 2026.
As featured in The Herald - Edinburgh school kids aiming for US robotics competition
The challenge
Paying for the robot parts, the qualifying rounds and the trip to the UK finals used up all the money the team made through fundraising.
There are only 7 weeks between qualifying for and attending the World Championships to raise the £14,000 needed to compete at the world finals.
Can you help this extremely talented team take up this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent Scotland on the world stage?