The NFU has announced the winners of its national STEM competition, Farmvention. Nine primary schools have won prizes including fully funded farm visits, chef visits and £600 to spend on robotics products for the school.
The winners will be showcasing their designs at an exhibition at the House of Commons during British Science Week, where the overall champion will be decided.
The competition, launched in September, asked children at primary schools to submit entries that solved one of three farming-related issues using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects). The challenges were:
- Design a tractor of the future
- Design an environment for a flock of 100 laying hens
- Design a new snack product from four British ingredients
NFU President Minette Batters said:
“This is the NFU’s first national competition for primary schools and there has been an incredible amount of enthusiasm from both teachers and pupils.
“With more than a thousand schools entering their designs, the competition clearly demonstrates that food and farming has a place in education; not only to engage young children in STEM subjects, but to develop their understanding about rural life and where their food comes from.
“I can’t wait to see the creative designs that our young inventors have produced at the exhibition in March.”
The winners
- KS1 Tractor of the future: Settle C of E Primary, Settle, North East
- KS2L Tractor of the future: Afeefa Haroon – Ronald Ross Primary School, London, South East
- KS2U Tractor of the future: Tracticians – Armitage C of E Primary School, Manchester, North West
- Healthy Hens KS1: Class 2H – Glascote Academy, Tamworth, West Midlands
- Healthy Hens KS2L: Oscar Brownmoore - St. Aidan's VC Primary School, London, South East
- Healthy Hens KS2U: Emily Bailey – Bridgewater Primary School, Northampton, East Midlands
- A Great British Snack KS1: Dosbarth y Gleision – Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, Wales
- A Great British Snack KS2L: Toby Barribel – Wonersh and Shamley Green Primary School, Guildford, South East
- A Great British Snack KS2U: Team Fruity Flow – St John Fisher, Catholic Primary School, Coventry, West Midlands