A pupil from Westpark School has been recognised at a national awards ceremony for his innovative invention designed to support children with visual impairment.
Jack McLennan, a Primary 6 pupil, was named one of three national winners of The #DigiInventors Challenge with his invention Kooldle – an accessible, braille‑based reading device aimed at helping children with vision impairment.
Fellow pupil Jacob Dearie, in Primary 7, was also recognised as a runner-up for his invention BrushQuest, an AI-powered toothbrush and app to encourage children to brush their teeth more often to prevent tooth decay. Jacob is now keen to enter the secondary schools competition next year, where the prize includes a two-day STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) boot camp at the City of Glasgow College.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Jack and Jacob’s success is a fantastic example of the creativity and ambition we see in Aberdeen’s schools. Jack’s braille-based reading device, Kooldle, shows how young people can use innovation to make a real difference to others, and we are incredibly proud of both pupils for representing Westpark School on a national stage.”
Councillor Lee Fairfull, vice-convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “It’s inspiring to see pupils developing thoughtful, practical ideas through the #DigiInventors Challenge. Congratulations to Jack on his national win and to Jacob on being a runner-up – achievements that highlight the value of STEM learning and encourage other young people to be confident problem-solvers, creators and innovators.”
Aileen McNair, head teacher, Westpark School, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Jack and Jacob. Their inventions reflect not only imagination and technical skill, but also real empathy and a desire to help others. The whole school community is proud of them, and we’re grateful to staff and families for supporting learners to develop their ideas and enjoy this wonderful celebration in Glasgow.”
Jack McLennan (Primary 6) said: “I was really excited to win and proud that my invention Kooldle could help children who are visually impaired enjoy reading more.”
Jacob Dearie (Primary 7) said: “I really enjoyed taking part in the competition and I’m delighted to be a runner-up – I’m looking forward to entering again next year.”
Both pupils attended the awards ceremony in Glasgow alongside their parents and teachers to celebrate their success.
The #DigiInventors Challenge is organised by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) as its flagship schools’ competition. It is delivered in collaboration with leading partners across Scotland in education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare.
The competition aims to inspire young people to develop creative, technology-based solutions to real-world challenges, with a particular focus on improving health and care outcomes.
Further details on the #DigiInventors Challenge can be found at: https://www.dhi-scotland.com/digiinventors
Information about the 2026 awards is available at: https://www.dhi-scotland.com/post/recognising-the-next-generation-at-the-2026-digiinventors-awards