WORCESTERSHIRE pupils impressed judges with their creativity and innovation at the finals of the Worcestershire Primary STEM Challenge 2025/26, writes Elena Pereslucha.
This year’s competition challenged pupils to design and build a theme park ride inspired by the animals of the West Midlands Safari Park, leading to the creation of spinning safari rides and clever engineering solutions.
The challenge is a flagship part of Early Careers Worcestershire’s work to connect schools with local employers alongside helping young people to discover new, exciting opportunities in STEM careers.
Throughout the year, STEMworks has delivered workshops in schools across Worcestershire to help pupils develop their ideas before proceeding to the county finals.
Sarah Lalor, Outreach Manager at STEMworks, said that it has been fantastic to work with so many schools and to see pupils embrace the challenge.
”We have watched young people grow in confidence, develop their teamwork skills and think creatively to overcome engineering challenges.”
”The quality of ideas presented at the finals has been outstanding and demonstrates exactly why programmes like this are so important in inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators.”
The county finals, hosted by Kidderminster College and Yamazaki Mazak UK, challenged pupils to build a theme park ride using K’NEX engineering kits in just one hour.
Judges observed their progress, explored the ideas behind each design, and, after behind-the-scenes tours of the host venues, pupils gathered to discover the winning schools.
Eckington First School took home the win for the North Worcestershire Final while Aston Fields Middle School finished as a runner-up.
For South Worcestershire, both Nunnery Wood Primary School and Bredon Hill Academy were crowned as winners while Callow End CofE Primary School and Upton-upon-Severn Primary School both finished as runners-up.
Coun Dan Boatright-Greene, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for education, SEND and skills, congratulated every school that took part and said that the imagination, enthusiasm and talent on display was incredible to see.
“What impressed me the most was not just the quality of ideas, but the confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills shown by the pupils throughout the competition.”
Matt Tope, programme manager for Early Careers Worcestershire, said that the challenge is one of the highlights of the year as it brings schools, employers and young people together around a shared challenge.
”Programmes like this help pupils connect what they learn in the classroom with the world beyond school.”
The next Primary STEM Challenge will launch at the start of the new academic year.
Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/skills for more information.
