The winners of last year’s D-Day competition, which saw over 60 digital agencies from across the UK work with schools to develop their pupil’s digital development awareness to create set projects, has been won by Dr Challoner’s Grammar School.
Working with Netcell, the Amersham-based school has won the digital media challenge through its Yappy Dog website and app which aimed to help plan dog walks based on the animal’s weight, breed and age.
Having won the competition, the school will receive 100 Raspberry Pis for the students to use.
Judging the submissions were Andrew Henning, CEO of Redweb and chair of education at BIMA; Tiffany St James, director of Stimulation; Chris Kempt, managing director of Kempt; and Shaban Siddiq, head of digital design at Weapon7.
Of the experience, Henning said: “BIMA D-Day was a fantastic success with 1,800 students taking part. We received over 200 group entries across the five categories and we’re really impressed with the quality, quantity and breadth of digital ideas that was created.
“At present there is an alarming skills shortage in digital which needs to be addressed and our survey of over 500 young people on the day emphasised a real lack of awareness of our industry. However, of those surveyed on the day, 74 per cent said that they would now consider a career in this industry.”
A survey of all participants carried out by BIMA and Amaze found that three quarters of High School students have not been taught or seen any information about the digital industry in the UK and that 63 per cent of students were not aware of the job opportunities available within the industry.