IOA Primary School Competition 2026

Institute of Acoustics: Sounds are all around us - from the natural melodies of birdsong and rushing streams, to the human sounds of talking and making music, and even mechanical noises from cars, aircraft, or lawnmowers. While some sounds bring joy, others can be unwelcome - these are considered noise. Children experience noise in everyday life, whether from traffic, airplanes, or even classmates in the playground.The competition encourages children to reflect on these sounds and express them creatively. Participants can submit a hand-made drawing, picture, patchwork, collage, or similar artwork that illustrates both sounds they enjoy and noises they find less pleasant.Children may enter individually or in groups of up to four. Closing date 31 July 2026. More information on the website here 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch at primary@ioa.org.uk

IOA Young Persons Competition 2026

Institute of  Acoustics: Sound shapes our world in powerful ways - often without us even realising it. From the thrill of live music and the buzz of a packed stadium, to the subtle atmosphere created by sound in films, games, and public spaces, sound has the ability to move us, connect us, and bring experiences to life.

But sound doesn’t always have a positive impact. When sound is unwanted, it becomes noise - and that can affect how we feel, how we concentrate, how we sleep, and even our long-term health. Understanding the difference between sound we enjoy and sound we struggle with is a big part of how we design better spaces, protect wellbeing, and shape the environments we live in.

The Institute of Acoustics has been running its annual Young Person’s Competition (formerly the Secondary School Competition) since 2021, giving young people the chance to explore acoustics, sound, noise, and vibration - and to discover the exciting career paths they could lead to. Over the years, the judges have been consistently impressed by the imagination, curiosity, and quality of work submitted.

This year’s competition is now open, and the theme Sound Unleashed invites entrants to ask big questions, think creatively, and share their ideas by submitting a video (preferably in MP4 and under 5 minutes).

The competition is open to individuals or teams of up to five young people aged 13–25. Winners will receive £1,000 per winning entry.

 You can find all submission details, requirements, and deadlines in the attachements here If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch at discoveracoustics@ioa.org.uk.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

This competition is  aimed at Year 12 students but available to younger students — is designed to stretch and challenge students beyond the curriculum interested in chemistry and is excellent experience for anyone considering chemistry for further study.

Students sit a 90-minute written paper under exam conditions in school, which is sent out to schools in advance. Mark schemes are available to teachers, and for schools submitting more than five scripts, these should be marked by the teacher. Scripts of students scoring over 50% are then submitted. Students who perform well receive a certificate and the best performers are invited to join a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August.Deadline: 29 May 2026

The website contains lots of past papers and mark schemes, which are a valuable resource for teachers. Full details are on the website.

Stockholm UK Junior Water Prize

This prize challenges young people in STEM to develop innovative yet practical solutions to the global water crisis. Entrants decide on a topic or problem that they want to investigate and undertake background research and experimental work before submitting a full written report.

Students whose reports are shortlisted get to present their work virtually to the judges. The winning UK entry receives £1500 cash prize and a fully funded trip to represent the UK and their school at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Sweden in August and be in with a chance to win the international grand prize of US$15,000! Deadline: 5 May 2026

Learn more on the website.

UKBC Biology Challenge

The Biology Challenge is a fun, annual competition open to students aged 13–15 in the UK. The challenge compromises of two, 25-minute, multiple-choice papers, and students need to complete both papers to be considered for an award category.

The questions set cover the school curriculum, but also caters to budding biologists whose knowledge has been enhanced by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking a keen interest in all things biology.

Practice papers are available to help students prepare. The competition is free to enter for UK schools and participants receive an e-certificate that recognises their category of achievement.

Find more information and register your school to take part on the Biology Challenge website.

 The Eurekas

The Eurekas is an annual physics competition for students aged 11-16 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is part of the Limit Less campaign, which has been conceived by the Institute of Physics to broaden and diversify the range of people doing physics after age 16.

This year’s competition is now open! 

We want to know: How can physics help make your home ready for the future?

Whether arty, sporty, musical or into literature and language, science or humanities, we’re looking for students to show how physics can provide the solution to the mysteries in our lives.

Any student aged 11-16 can take part and all entries that meet the criteria will be accepted. An inspiring judging panel will determine which entries demonstrate exceptional originality and creativity, with a number of prizes up for grabs for students and their schools.

Get creative and show us your ideas. Submissions are now open until 8 June 2026. More information her

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

Don't just imagine a better world… invent it Put your students' design thinking skills to the test and create a technology-for-good solution to a real-world problem and have the chance to win technology, mentoring, work experience and their idea on the Samsung big screen in Piccadilly Circus. Using a simple design thinking process inspired by real-world innovation at Samsung, we'll take your students from a blank page to a great idea – in as little as one lesson. The first 500 teachers to register will receive a free Imagination Toolbox – a pack of creative idea cards that your students can use to spark ideas for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, or any innovation activity in the classroom. The competition is closed for 2026 but you can register interest for the 2026-2027 competition here 

UK CanSat Competition

The CanSat competition gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on a small-scale space project. They are tasked with designing and building their own simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can. The challenge for students is to fit all the major sub-systems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system, into this smallest volume. After building their CanSat, teams will be invited to launch events across the UK to launch their CanSats on small rockets, with their CanSats returning to Earth using a parachute designed by the students. Teams main mission is to measure air pressure and air temperature during the descent of the CanSat, with data being transmitted to the students' ground station. They are also tasked with designing a second mission of their choice. It may be based on other satellite missions, a perceived need for scientific data for a specific project, a technology demonstration for a student-designed component, or any other mission that would fit the CanSat's capabilities. The competition2026 - 2027 CanSat competition? Register your interest her

Green Power Competition

The Greenpower Education Trust is a UK charity that gets young people enthusiastic about science and engineering by challenging them to design, build and race an electric car. We supply age appropriate Kit Cars, which can be built at school, college or elsewhere and raced in motorsport venues at events organized by Greenpower. Alternatively, older participants can design and build their own car according to our regulations. The Greenpower challenge uses the excitement of motorsport to inspire young people to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The F24 season runs from April to October. The season starts with a test day and the Opening of the Sea. Further test days follow and then the heats begin, taking place across the country until the end of September where we host the International Final at Goodwood in October for qualified teams. More information here

Young Coders Competition

 The Young Coders Competition is an opportunity for young people to learn to code using Scratch, develop key web skills and think creatively. Participants create a project, either individually or in teams of up to 6. Age. 8-13 Register interest now via the website to access free resources to help guide learners, plus more information about the competition.

DVLA Coding Competition

The DVLA's STEM Program is evolving to better support schools throughout the academic year. This means that the annual Her Code will take a break in 2025. From now on, the event will be held in July instead of December. This change follows feedback from all parts of the education sector to fit in better with the school year. The next DVLA Code Challenge takes place on 7 July 2026 The 2026 challenge is open to children and young adults aged 7 to 16. Your School, College or Group can compete in any or all of the two categories DVLA Code Challenge for students aged 7 to 11 DVLA Code Challenge for students aged 11 to 16 The Code Challenge enables students of all ages to develop their problem solving skills, work in a team and improve their knowledge of computer programming in a fun and innovative way and also to win IT Equipment for their schools or Groups. To register for the event in any of the categories, just click here and read the Competition Terms and Conditions then send us the completed Registration Form

Train Like an Astronaut: The Challenge of Walking to the Moon

Every school year, from September to August, teams of students up to the age of 14 can take part in the Moon Walk Challenge. Teams from all over the world complete Mission X activities and submit them online to earn steps. The steps submitted by all the participating teams help the Mission X mascots, Luna and Leo, to walk 384,400 km - the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Participants will receive a certificate and an invitation to a virtual event hosted by ESA Education. In addition, teacher training sessions, national events and summer camps are held in several countries. You can read more about Mission X in your country by looking at your country page in the menu bar at the top of this page

AstroPi - Mission Space Laboratory

Mission Space Lab offers teams of young people the opportunity to carry out scientific experiments on board the International Space Station. In Mission Space Lab teams are invited to write computer programs that solve a scientific task in space: to collect data to calculate the speed at which the International Space Station (ISS) is traveling as accurately as possible. To achieve this, teams write a Python program to first use the Astro Pi's sensors or computer camera and collect data about the orientation and motion of the ISS as it orbits the Earth, and then calculate the speed of the ISS based on the collected data. . Taking part in the Astro Pi Mission Space Lab enables young people to learn about the ISS, about collecting and using data to answer a scientific question, and about creating and solving computer program problems. They also have an exciting opportunity to learn about the science of the ISS's motion and orbit. Qualifying programs will be used on the ISS, and teams will receive certificates and data collected in space. More information here

Join Climate Detectives

Did you know you can make a difference in understanding and protecting planet Earth? Join Climate Detectives, a project run by ESA and ESERO! Your investigation can focus on climate change but also on everything about our planet Earth and its care: the environment, sustainable lifestyles, biodiversity, air quality, forests, oceans and much more. Be curious and become a Climate Detective! Together, student detectives work to protect our planet! Teams can choose between two levels of engagement. By participating in the new beginner category, Climate Detectives Kids, teams can complete fun hands-on activities, and earn badges to become a certified climate and Earth detective! For a bigger challenge, teams can complete a full investigation of their choice: identify the problem they want to analyze, collect data, and share their results with the Climate Detectives community. Selected teams will be invited for an exciting learning and celebration event at the end of this school year! Find out more here

UK Youth Rockets Challenge

The UK Youth Rocket Challenge (UKROC) is a great way to engage the next generation of engineers with hands-on experience of building and delivering complex missions. This is an exciting way to learn more about maths and science, with the UK winners having the opportunity to compete against teams from France, the USA and Japan in the International Finals. The challenge is aimed at students aged 11 – 18 from any secondary schools, colleges, educational facilities or youth groups to design, build and launch a model rocket with a vulnerable payload. The rocket must reach a certain height with a certain total flight length and must adhere to the specific installation rules. The competition's rules and scoring parameters change each year to challenge the students' ingenuity and encourage a new approach to rocket design. More information here about the 2027 Challegne

UK CDC competition

The UK Space Design Competition is a science, engineering and business challenge designed to simulate life in industry. Teams are given a list of requirements for settling a space and are tasked with drawing up a detailed design which they present to a panel of judges from industry, academia and business. Open to UK secondary and sixth form students (years 10 – 13), teams can enter the UKSDC through our regional or digital qualifiers (introduced in 2020 to replace our normal regional qualifiers in a COVID-safe way). Winning teams from these entry points take part in our national final; a residential competition weekend hosted by Imperial College London! A select group of winners are then invited to go from there to the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre. Our aim is to present interesting events that demonstrate the value that students could gain from further studies or careers in STEM disciplines. We hope you will choose to join us on this journey! Registration here for the 2026-27 Challenge

The Moon Camp

Take part in Moon Camp and design a space habitat! Take on the role of a new space adventurer with your team and design a habitat on the surface of the moon or go beyond the Moon and explore other worlds in our Solar System. Choose the topic and format that best suits your team and get creative! Your project can range from: scientific experiment practical project space infrastructure design game based design 3D design of astronaut base 3D printed model virtual or augmented reality world… and much more!! Moon Camp is a partnership between ESA and the national ESEROs and the Airbus Foundation. All teams that present a project will receive a certificate of participation and will be invited to the final online livestream event with an astronaut. More information here 

British Model Aviation Association 2025 University and School Load Challenges

The BMFA's Cargo Challenges require students to design, build and fly cargo model aircraft. The competitions have evolved to stretch the abilities of the students taking part and there is no doubt that the development of a good aircraft requires each team to demonstrate design talent, technical knowledge and teamwork. The judging is by a panel of professional engineers and the competition has attracted very favorable comments from external examiners, the challenge is sponsored by the Royal Aeronautical Society and also enjoys the support of BAE SYSTEMS, Rolls Royce, RAF Engineering and Royal Air Force Model Aircraft. Association. The competition is open to all students in full-time education including home education and accredited apprenticeships, based in the UK and Europe. d. An entry fee is payable on submission of a completed entry form, for 2025 we have significantly reduced the entry fee for all competition classes.  Go here for further details For detailed information or assistance contact the Challenge Coordinator, Manny Williamson on manny@bmfa.org