Energy Quest 2024/25 evaluation

Overview

Energy Quest is designed to inspire 11 to 13-year-olds about engineering and technology. Through hands-on workshops, the programme builds students’ understanding of what engineers do and the diverse career opportunities available. It encourages students to think like engineers, solve real-world problems, and see themselves in future engineering roles. 

Our evaluation of the 2024/25 Energy Quest workshop showed the programme was particularly effective in teaching students about engineering and engineering careers. It left students interested in these careers and motivated them to find out more about jobs in these fields.

Students and teachers were both especially enthusiastic about the hands-on experiments, teamwork, and interactive problem-solving activities. These elements made the workshops enjoyable, and helped students build confidence, develop practical skills, and see real-world relevance in engineering careers.

Key findings

• 94% of students reported learning more about engineering careers
• 71% were motivated to do more practical problem-solving activities
• 69% said they were more interested in becoming an engineer after the workshop
• just over half (53%) said Energy Quest made them feel like they could become an engineer if they wanted to
• students from underrepresented backgrounds, including girls, disabled students, and those from priority schools, reported high levels of engagement and impact
• girls were particularly enthusiastic about the hands-on and team-based elements
• 96% of teachers agreed the workshop provided meaningful opportunities for students to apply science and problem-solving
• 67% reported increased motivation to suggest engineering careers to students
• teachers who engaged with CPD were more likely to feel confident promoting engineering pathways and rated the CPD highly

Energy Quest programme