Hulme Grammar School has hosted a 12-hour hackathon for 100 pupils from across Oldham, with teams building prototype digital products that used artificial intelligence tools.
The event ran through the school's Brenda Mills Institute of Innovation and Technology, known as BMIIT. The institute sits within Hulme Grammar School and focuses on STEAM learning across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Pupils worked in teams on technology projects that organisers described as "AI-native". They developed concepts that addressed school and community problems. They produced functional prototypes during the day.
Google AI Studio and Lovable.dev were used in the event. Students also used AI tools for creative tasks. Organisers said some primary school participants used AI to compose songs and generate digital artwork.
Projects pitched
Teams presented products aimed at study, navigation and safety. One group built ExamNest, described as a revision hub that centralises study materials and uses gamification features that point students to strengths and weaknesses. Assheton Sixth Form created that project.
Hulme Grammar pupils in Years 7 and 9 produced Education Royale. The team described it as a study game with competitive elements for revision.
Other projects included Edu-Sync. The team described it as a student dashboard with an integrated AI tutor and real-time collaboration tools. Another group built Campus Guide. They described it as a tool for school navigation and facility tracking. A separate team produced Safe Steps. They described it as an AI-powered child safety application for journeys to school.
Mentors involved
The hackathon used mentors from academia and industry. The school said BMIIT Junior Fellows and Hulme Grammar alumni supported teams across the day.
Phoebe Dickson led the mentorship. She is studying for a PhD in Statistical Genetics at the University of Bristol. George Spencer also led mentoring. He is completing a PhD in Machine Learning for Bioprocess Optimisation at Imperial College London.
Professionals from CTI Digital, Koderly, ADA College and Purple took part. Hulme Grammar alumni who study Natural Sciences at Durham University also joined the mentor group.
Local partners
The school said the programme aimed to widen access to digital skills across the borough. It framed the hackathon as a route for pupils from different backgrounds to work with modern tools and receive coaching from industry and higher education.
Gavin Wheeldon, CEO of Purple and Chair of Governors at Hulme Grammar School, linked the projects to potential commercial routes.
"The level of innovation I've seen today has blown me away! It's clear that some of the solutions these teams developed could be turned into viable businesses tomorrow. Oldham is home to an incredible amount of young talent, and after seeing their creativity and technical skills in action, I am certain they have very promising futures ahead of them in the tech industry," said Gavin Wheeldon, CEO, Purple.
The event also drew comment from Oldham Council. Cllr Mohon Ali, Oldham Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, highlighted the focus on digital skills and participation from across Oldham.
"The hackathon at Hulme Grammar School is a fantastic example of our borough's ambition in action, with over 100 pupils from across Oldham coming together to innovate and problem-solve. By fostering these vital digital skills, we are ensuring our young people have the tools they need to thrive and lead the way in Oldham's growing future economy," said Ali.
Prizes and data
During the day, pupils took part in "ungoogleable" challenges for spot prizes. The school said AMEX GBT donated rewards. Items included computer monitors, wireless keyboards, bluetooth speakers and earbuds.
Some challenges used event data. Organisers said primary school teams used a combined 650 Lovable AI credits. Another challenge asked pupils to estimate the steps taken by Stephen Norbury, Head of Computer Science. The school said he walked 31,000 steps during the day.
Competition results
The event ended with a pitch session judged by representatives from AMEX GBT, Purple, Nominet and Koderly. Organisers split awards into a junior category and a senior and sixth form category.
In the Junior School Category, the Year 5 team from Christ Church won. The prize was a hands-on coding workshop for their class. The Year 5 team from Hulme Grammar School received a highly commended award.
In the Senior School and Sixth Form Category, Assheton Sixth Form won for ExamNest. The team received a pass to Bury Arcade. The Hulme Grammar Year 7 and Year 9 team received a highly commended status for Education Royale.
The school said BMIIT plans further activity that links classroom learning with external mentors and industry partners.