A LEGO robotics team based in Bude has beaten the competition to win a national award at the FIRST LEGO League competition.

The Oil Fighters, a dedicated team of young engineers from Bude’s Home Educator community, travelled to Harrogate to take on some of the best up and coming LEGO builders from across the country.

The team went as part of Cognition Creative Learning CIC, a South West-based social enterprise committed to delivering engaging, hands-on STEM education through LEGO Education and other innovative programmes. As part of this mission, Cognition runs a FIRST LEGO League Home Educator Club, now in its second successful year, supporting children aged 9–16 to explore engineering, programming, and real-world problem-solving in a fun, inclusive environment.

The Oil Fighters joined the club in September 2024 and have worked tirelessly as a team ever since. Their dedication and creativity shone through at the Bude regional heats in March 2025, where they emerged as champions. This achievement earned them the honour of representing North Cornwall—alongside Skibbrud from Budehaven Community School—at the FIRST LEGO League National Finals, held in Harrogate in May.

Among 75 top teams from across the UK, the Oil Fighters stood out, winning the prestigious Breakthrough Award. This accolade celebrates a team that has shown exceptional progress, teamwork, and excellent external communication and research, particularly around issues affecting their community and environment.

Bude Lego engineer team
The team took home the Breakthrough award (Submitted)

"We’re absolutely thrilled that the Oil Fighters have been recognised on a national stage," said Briony Cole, a director at Cognition Creative Learning CIC. "They’ve demonstrated the power of curiosity, collaboration, and resilience—and they’ve inspired other young people in the home education community and beyond."

This national recognition is a testament to the Oil Fighters’ commitment to meaningful, community-centred STEM learning and to Cognition’s mission to make high-quality, inclusive STEM education accessible to all young people, regardless of background.