THE battle lines have been drawn for a group of secondary school girls who have created their own robot.

Youngsters from Marsden Heights High School in Brierfield designed, built and operated the robot from scratch.

Inspired by the BBC show Robot Wars, they are now hoping to develop it further so they can enter next year’s VEX Robotics Competition.

The after-school club was set up for all year groups by maths teacher Rachael Boyce in January. Of the 12 students, nine are girls.

Miss Boyce said there has been a real buzz around it.

She said: “This is the first robot they have developed. They researched it and built it from scratch.

“We designed it so it could complete the task required for this year’s VEX Robotics Competition.

“It was based on a badminton game where it had to throw objects over a net with extra points given if it could hang upside down on the net.

“Unfortunately we missed this year’s competition because the club had only just started so we are preparing for next year.”

The robot is called MegaScops, which is named after the Edge End Lane school’s emblem - a Scops Owl.

“The club is open to the whole of school so it shows the interest is predominantly girls,” Miss Boyce said.

“I am so proud of the girls and how much they do themselves. They have really got the passion.

“They have developed a name and a brand and are running their own social media page for it.

“They are really keen. They have got so much enthusiasm.

“I knew nothing about the programming or how it was built - it was all down the to students.

“Now we are looking for something better and stronger and preparing for next year’s competition.”

She said they are looking for other schools in Lancashire to set up some inter-school competitions.

Headteacher Alyson Littlewood said: “We have got more girls interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. It is brilliant.

“For us it is about the work done in computer science and the practical skills of putting it together.

“It is about raising the aspirations of the girls. They were so excited to show it off.

“As a headteacher I am so proud but also as a woman. They are leading the way in this. It is absolutely wonderful.”