The IET Faraday Challenge is a free of charge annual competition that tasks students to research, design and make prototype solutions to real-world engineering problems. This introduces students to engineering, inspiring them to consider engineering as a career and helps to develop their practical and employability skills, including team working, problem solving and creative thinking.
The Faraday Challenge Days are designed as cross-curricular activity days covering science, design and technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and are held at Schools, Organisations and Universities around the UK. Through its charitable arm, as well as external supporters, the IET provide the Faraday Challenge Days at no charge to UK schools.
The 2021-22 Faraday Challenge theme partner is The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM). The season will start in September 2021 and run right through to July 2022.
You can now either apply to:
Option A: host one of our Challenge Leader-led Faraday Challenge Days at your school with the option to invite teams from up to five other local schools.
Option B: apply to be an invited school and take one team from your school along to another local event.
Option C: if circumstances mean it is not possible for one of our Challenge Leaders to come into school, you can apply to hold a teacher-led Faraday Challenge Day at your school for your students only. We strongly advise that if you choose this option, you have attended or hosted a Faraday Challenge Day previously.
Option D: host one of our Challenge Leader-led Faraday Challenge Days at your Organisation/University and invite teams from up to six local schools.
There will also be a Virtual Faraday Challenge which will be available via the website from September 2021 until July 2022. The Virtual Faraday Challenge is open for anyone between 7-15, young people can do this at home, in school, individually or as a group or family. It is not part of the National Faraday Challenge competition but there are prizes to be won. More information can be found here.
Teams should be made up of six students aged 12-13 years old (England and Wales Year 8, Scotland S1/S2, Northern Ireland Year 9). The winners of each Faraday Challenge Day will win prizes for themselves, a trophy for their school and gain a place on the national league table. The top teams from across the UK will get to go through to the National Final at the end of the season to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school to spend on STEM activities.
The deadline for applications is 1st July 2021. To apply to take part in the 2021-22 season of Faraday Challenge Days visit https://education.theiet.org/faraday-challenge-days/enter-your-school/