The Robotics Challenge is a curriculum-linked, year-long programme that helps improve the perception of engineering among both girls and boys.
The Robotics Challenge gets students aged 11 to 14 working together in teams to solve real-world engineering, technology and computing challenges.
Facilitated by their teachers, students learn how to design, build and control robots to complete a series of challenges and develop and present short research projects into a contemporary engineering problem.
Students who participate in the Robotics Challenge build their STEM skills, develop strong personal skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and confidence, and uncover future STEM career possibilities.
Schools receive everything they need to participate in the Challenge - robotics kits, training for teachers, opportunity to compete against other teams - free of charge, so that every school has the chance to take part.
During 2021 the Robotics Challenge will be an online experience providing the benefits of the programme but under the new restricted guidelines. Using the Microsoft Teams Education platform the Robotics Challenge will provide all participating schools with a series of planned lessons, tutorials, template presentations and activities on how to use the hardware and software, and will also include information on how to prepare digital portfolios.
Regional finals and the UK final of the challenge will also be held as digital celebration events.
The Robotics Challenge is led by EngineeringUK and Helsington in partnership with The Royal Air Force and Network Rail and is supported by Rolls-Royce.
Find out more about the programme on the Robotics Challenge website
Participants in the Robotics Challenge report higher levels of knowledge of careers in STEM, are more positive about STEM subjects and rate STEM careers as more desirable compared with the general population of 11 to 14 year olds.
Supporting the Robotics Challenge provides opportunities to:
