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Ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, school pupils from Caerphilly have been treated to a special behind-the-scenes visit to Silverstone.

St Martins pupils visited the iconic Formula One circuit in Northamptonshire on Friday July 4, after winning an international STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) challenge.

The school took part in the British Council’s Learning Sectors programme, supported by Formula One, which connects schools across the UK, South Africa and India to solve real-world STEM challenges.

St Martins partnered with Hoërskool Koffiefontein, a school from a small farming village in South Africa’s Free State province, and explored urgent issues affecting their community.

This included issues with the South African school’s water supply – with just three hours of water a day due to aging infrastructure and damaged supply systems.

Through regular video calls and messaging, St Martins pupils saw the impact of the crisis and began researching a range of possible solutions.

They also explored wider issues such as land ownership, public funding and political responsibility, and worked on a comprehensive plan to address the issues.

In exchange, the South African pupils looked at issues facing people here in Wales – in particular the current cost-of-living crisis and rising energy and heating costs.

St Martins teacher Francisco Lopez, who lead the school’s project, said: “What started as a small school project quickly grew beyond expectations. The students worked independently, reached out to experts such as Welsh Water, and developed not just one idea but a range of thoughtful, realistic solutions.

“They learned that global issues like water scarcity aren’t just engineering problems – they involve people, politics and empathy.

“One of the most moving moments was seeing our pupils witness the optimism and resilience of their South African peers. It transformed how they view inequality – not as something to pity, but as something to solve together.”

Describing the moment the team learned they had won, Mr Lopez said: “I was over the moon – especially for the students. I ran to tell the headteacher.

“The competition across the UK was fierce, and honestly, I didn’t expect to win. I had to read the announcement email twice. This is a memory they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.

“The pupils themselves were also stunned by the news – Some are big F1 fans and they couldn’t believe they’d be VIP guests.”

Eight pupils from the school visited Silverstone on Friday, where they met with F1 engineers, explored the paddock, and saw how STEM is applied at the iconic venue.

Mr Lopez added: “Not all our pupils dream of becoming engineers, but this project shows them STEM is everywhere – from communication and logistics to project management and politics.

“Formula One brings all these together in a dynamic, international environment. It’s a powerful way to connect passion with future career opportunities.”

Congratulating the school on their achievement, Ruth Cocks, British Council Wales director, said: “It’s fantastic to see a school from Wales win a UK-wide competition – a real testament to the creativity, commitment, and global outlook of the pupils and staff at St Martins.”