THEY may be miles from the sea in landlocked Wiltshire but pupils from Grittleton House School managed to excel during UK Science Week at their chosen subject of nautical engineering.

Taking up the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Challenge, youngsters considered numerous aspects of naval architecture along with wind powered and motorised sea vessel anatomy.

They aligned this with the key aspects of design and performance to build their own speed boat.

Some of the younger pupils came up with a craft from another age – a pirate’s galleon.

School spokesperson Julie Gleed said the children rose to their seafaring tasks and that it was a great exercise.

“Each challenge provided opportunities for lateral thinking, problem solving and team work,” she said.