STEPS Young Engineers Award 2025/2026 Teacher Registration now OPEN!

Could your class be this year's Young Engineers?

STEPS are pleased to announce registration for this years Young Engineers Award is now open. 

The STEPS Young Engineers Award is a nationwide competition for 3rd and 4th class students. Teams of up to six Young Engineers use the STEPS Project Book to guide them through creating their very own engineering project, a project that will positively impact their local community.
 
The competition introduces engineering to young children and helps them to understand how engineers work together to improve our lives. Teachers do not have to have any understanding of engineering. The STEPS Project Book lays out the 5 project steps in an easy-to-follow manner, guiding the students through each stage: brainstorming their idea, drawing their design, making the prototype and evaluating the project. It has many opportunities for curriculum links, for example the environment, material investigation and report writing.

We are delighted to have Mark the Science Guy provide us with 5 How-To videos, walking students through each stage of  the project.
 
The highlight of the competition is Presentation Week. This is not judged and is optional. Many teachers choose to request a volunteer STEPS Engineer Role Model to visit the class to listen to the students' project showcase. Many others ask a local engineer to visit: a parent engineer, college student or an engineer past pupil. 

Registered teachers will have the opportunity to avail of a STEPS Engineer Role Model to visit their class. This can be indicated once registered.
 
With the introduction of Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) as a subject for primary schools in 2026, the Young Engineers Award is a great way of preparing for the curriculum change. The Young Engineers Award aligns strongly with the new draft curriculum plan, directing students to collaborate, plan and create prototypes, identify problems and solutions, and presenting and reporting their findings.  

There are lots of resources available for teachers in the STEPS Digital Teacher's Pack (available to registered teachers). 
 
For more information check out the STEPS Website here.