Prototype of Marleigh pupil’s energy-saving kettle unveiled at Anglia Ruskin University school engineering contest

A prototype of a power-saving kettle designed by a Year 3 pupil at Marleigh Primary Academy in Cambridge was unveiled at a ceremony at Anglia Ruskin University celebrating a school engineering competition.

The kettle’s design helps prevent overfilling, which means it prevents electricity being wasted.

It was revealed at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), where pupils from the East of England who took part in Primary Engineer’s national competition gathered.

To enter, young people aged from 3 to 19 answered the question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”

More than 71,000 pupils from across the UK took part, with entries graded by industry professionals before going to regional judging panels.

At ARU, two winners and two highly commended in each year group received trophies and framed certificates

Each year the university and industry partners of Primary Engineer select an idea to turn into a working prototype.

Last year, Lucas’ design for a power-saving kettle was chosen and it was displayed at this year’s ceremony.

Mark Tree, interim head of ARU’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment, said: “It was a pleasure to once again host the East of England Primary Engineer awards at Anglia Ruskin University.

“Technical staff and students from the School of Engineering and the Built Environment have been hard at work developing a prototype based on last year’s winning entry, and this was unveiled in the presence of its designer, Lucas from Marleigh Primary Academy.

“The prototype is a kettle which records the amount of electricity used and the cost of each individual boiling.

“This was inspired by Lucas’ headteacher complaining about others overfilling kettles and the amount that this was costing; an issue which we are sure is discussed in most households!

“This year saw a variety of ingenious ideas in each year group and the overall winner from this year's competition was the ‘up and down bunk bed’, invented by Poppy from Necton Primary School [in in Norfolk].

“The invention is designed to make the bed easier to tidy and make, whilst still being a bunk bed. This will be developed by a team from Anglia Ruskin University and we await with interest to see the prototype at next year's awards ceremony.”