Robotics for Girls
Years 1 to 12
Pymble Robotics launched in 2016 with 20 students. Today, with 400 participants, it is one of the largest all-girls STEM programs in the world, starting with the basics for our youngest students and building up to international competitors in our Senior School.
Ages and stages of learning
The program is structured across four stages, from first exposure to competitive robotics through to elite international competition.
Years 1 and 4 — Hands-on coding and engineering
Students begin with Dash robots (Years 1-2) and VEX GO kits (Years 3-4), learning foundational coding skills such as sequencing, loops, simple conditionals and variables, and early sensor control, mechanics and teamwork. This stage instils confidence and curiosity in technology through playful, guided projects.
Years 5 and 6 — Engineering challenges
VEX IQ and LEGO® SPIKE™ kits are used to design, build and code robots using structured programming with loops, variables and more advanced sensors and sensor control to solve real-world problems. Students learn a structured design process for advanced sensor integration to increase robot accuracy and efficiency, alongside presentation skills while participating in competitions. This stage nurtures problem-solving and communication.
Years 7 and 8 — Advanced robotics
Here, we introduce metal-based VEX V5 robots and First Tech Challenge (FTC) experience, which is rare at this level. Girls learn text-based coding in Java, developing skills in object-oriented programming and control algorithms alongside working with industry-standard control systems. FTC offers early exposure to professional engineering tools, laying the foundation for high-level competition at the next stage.
Years 9 and 12 — Elite competition
Students may continue in FTC and also progress to FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams. FRC teams train year-round, operating like mini-engineering firms: setting goals, managing budgets, using CAD design and advanced coding in Java and C++ with subsystem-based architecture, control algorithms and vision systems, and preparing to compete in local and international challenges, including the FIRST World Robotics Championship in Houston.
Leading the way
First all-girls team
- to win a FIRST Robotics Competition in Australia
- to win silver in their division at FIRST Robotics World Championships
- to qualify for VEX Robotics World Championships.
First in class
5 Pymble students have received the prestigious FIRST Leadership Award, one of the highest honours for students in FIRST Robotics.
- Pragya Mehta (FRC, 2021)
- Sabrina Rolinek (FTC, 2022)
- Sophia Chen (FTC, 2022)
- Jessie Xie (FTC, 2022)
- Ang-Ya Koo (FRC, 2024)
Our teams
13
13 VEX V5 teams
7
FTC teams
2
FRC teams
+
Dash, VEX GO, VEX IQ and FLL teams
