Beyond the classroom
Where Our Students Compete
Beyond the classroom, AARAS mentors student teams into competitions run by other organisations, FIRST®, Macquarie University and UNSW among them. This is our coaching track record, not an AARAS-run event. If you're after AARAS's own open STEM competition, that lives on a separate page.
Ages 12–18, team-based
FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC)
Teams design and build robots using industry-standard motors, sensors and computer vision for a global stage. AARAS has coached FTC teams since 2021, with Sydney Regional placings and Nationals qualifications at Macquarie University most seasons.
Award winners
2024/2025
FTC – Into the Deep (2024/2025)
- Won: 1st Place Motivate Award
- Qualified for National Championships
- Sydney Regional, 2024, Pymble Ladies College NSW.
- National Championship, 2024, Macquarie University.
2021/2022
FTC – Freight Frenzy (2021/2022)
- Won: Judges' Choice Award
- Qualified for National Championships
- Sydney Regional, 2021, held online.
- National Championship, 2021, held online.
Qualified for National Championships
2023/2024
FTC – Centerstage (2023/2024)
- Qualified for National Championships
- Sydney Regional, 2023, Pymble Ladies College NSW.
- National Championship, 2023, Macquarie University.
Competed
2022/2023
FTC – Power Play (2022/2023)
- Sydney Regional, 2022, Pymble Ladies College NSW.
Ages 9–16, team-based
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge (FLL Challenge)
Students design, build and program LEGO robots to solve themed challenges. AARAS has coached FLL Challenge teams since 2019, with Bossley Park and North Sydney Regional results including a Breakthrough Award.
Award winners
2022/2023
FLL Challenge – Superpowered (2022/2023)
- Won: Breakthrough Award
- Bossley Park Regional, 2022, Bossley Park.
2021/2022
FLL Challenge – Cargo Connect (2021/2022)
- Won: Breakthrough Award
- Bossley Park Regional, 2021, Bossley Park.
2021/2022
FLL – Cargo Connect (2021/2022)
- Won: Judges Choice Award
- Qualified for National Championships
- Pendle Hill High School, Year 9 IST class.
- Macquarie University Remote Championships, 2021.
2019/2020
FLL Challenge – City Shaper (2019/2020)
- Won: Judges Award
- Qualified for National Championships
- Bossley Park Regional, 2019, Bossley Park.
- National Championship, 2019, Macquarie University.
Competed
2023/2024
FLL Challenge – Masterpiece (2023/2024)
- North Sydney Regional, 2023, Wenona School, North Sydney.
2020/2021
FLL Challenge – RePLAY (2020/2021)
- Bossley Park Regional, 2020, Bossley Park.
Ages 4–8, team-based
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover (FLL Discover)
Young learners explore foundational STEM concepts through hands-on play. AARAS has run FLL Discover teams since 2016, showcasing at Macquarie University.
Award winners
2016/2017
FLL Discover – Creature Craze (2016/2017)
- Won: 6 Awards
- National Showcase
- Showcase, 2016, Girraween Public School.
- National Showcase, 2016, Macquarie University.
Competed
2019/2020
FLL Discover – Boomtown Build (2019/2020)
- Showcase, 2019, Toongabbie Public School.
- International Showcase, 2019, Macquarie University.
2018/2019
FLL Discover – Mission Moon (2018/2019)
- Showcase, 2018, held across various schools.
2017/2018
FLL Discover – Aqua Adventure (2017/2018)
- Showcase, 2017, Parramatta East Public School.
Run by UNSW
RoboCup Junior
A global robotics competition run by UNSW, alongside AARAS's other competitive programs.
Competed
Run by UNSW
RoboCup Junior
- AARAS students take part in RoboCup Junior, a global robotics competition run by UNSW.
2018
DXC Global Coding Challenge
In 2018, two AARAS student teams, all aged eight, represented Australia in the DXC Global Coding Challenge, independently designing, coding and testing their own Scratch games.
Competition coaching FAQ
Common questions
What competitions has AARAS coached students into?
FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST LEGO League Challenge, FIRST LEGO League Discover, and RoboCup Junior.
Has AARAS actually won anything?
Yes. AARAS teams have earned awards including the FTC Motivate Award and Judges' Choice Award, multiple FLL Challenge Breakthrough and Judges Awards, and several National Championship qualifications at Macquarie University.
How do I get my child onto a competition team?
Book a free trial in AARAS's regular coding and robotics classes. Competitive teams grow out of these classes as students progress.
Want your child on a team like this?
Book a free trial and start on the pathway to competition
Every student starts at the level that matches their skills. Competitive teams grow out of AARAS's regular coding and robotics classes.
FIRST®, FIRST® Tech Challenge and FIRST® LEGO® League are trademarks of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). FIRST® LEGO® League is a jointly held trademark of FIRST® and the LEGO Group, neither of which is overseeing, involved with, or responsible for AARAS Education's coaching activities.