Secondary Awards, Challenges and Competitions

Floating Garden Challenge

Challenge your students to find a solution to a real problem caused by climate change in Bangladesh.

Practical Action’s Floating Garden Challenge enables students to design and make a model structure that will enable farmers to grow crops even in an area that may become flooded. The challenge is perfect for:

• STEM clubs
• CREST Awards
• Curriculum Enrichment Day

All the support material needed to run the challenge including a Power Point, activity sheets and certificates are freely available at www.practicalaction.org/floatinggardenchallenge

Young Fashion Designer UK

In 2010, convinced of a need to showcase excellent D&T Textiles work nationally, Karen Wintle, decided to launch a new competition for fashion students studying at KS4/5 examination level. A pilot was set up for schools from South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This was immediately successful with over 80 entries and extremely supportive and positive feedback.
In 2011, with the support of the Textile Institute and the Design and Technology Association, the competition was opened to the whole UK. 135 entries were received and so the national event was launched with a further 150 entries in 2012.

For more information visit: www.youngfashiondesigneruk.co.uk

Primary and Secondary Engineer - Primary, Secondary and Advanced Leaders Award for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

A free award open to pupils between the ages of 5 and 19. The Award asks pupils to write a letter of application to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it detailing how they are involved in STEM activities and to complete the award interview a Scientist, Technologist, Engineer or Mathematician about their life and career. Each year a number of Special Awards are added to the site each with its own focus interviews and each with their own prizes! Pupils can enter video or podcast interviews however pupils over the age of 9 must submit a written article to complete the award. For more information and resources contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.leadersaward.com

Secondary Engineer Community BLOODHOUND SSC Challenge

Based on the current world land speed record attempt being made by Richard Nobel and Andy Green and a team of engineers, scientists and designers to build a car that will travel at a design speed of 1050mph! The Challenge is free to enter and a range of resources are available to support the classroom or club activity. Students are to design a stored energy vehicle to travel at speed over a set distance. Teams are mixture of ages including adults and secondary pupils working alongside a minimum of one primary pupil per team - two leagues are offered Primary and Community. For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit http://www.primaryengineer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=67

On-going Awards and challenges

BBC Blast Scrap Fashion Eco Competition

Engineering Education Scheme - provides students with an opportunity to experience the professional world of science, engineering and technology through group work on a project led by a local company. The scheme is part of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Best programme. See EES website for further information. http://www.thescheme.org.uk/

Young Engineers for Britain - The Young Engineers for Britain competition was an annual initiative of the Engineering and Technology Board (formerly the Engineering Council) and is now run by Young Engineers. It is the biggest event of its kind in Europe. The competition showcases the wealth of innovation and creativity amongst students aged 11-19 in UK schools and colleges. See http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=54

You can find other challenges and competitions from the following links:

http://www.stemchallenges.net/challenges

http://www.lerikoandassociates.co.uk/pageview.php?page=stem

http://www.f1inschools.co.uk/

http://www.london.edu/facultyandresearch/subjectareas/strategyandentrepreneurship/competitions.html

http://www.concurrent-engineering.co.uk/Blog/bid/80054/PTC-joins-with-Scalextric-for-Schools-Competition

http://www.academia.co.uk/Xirrus-Art-of-WiFi/default.aspx