If you are looking for spring competitions for secondary school students in the UK and Ireland, the following major events in March and April 2026 are well worth paying attention to. They cover a range of areas, including maths, science, engineering, coding, writing, debating, economics, entrepreneurship, and speedcubing.

Competition Name	Key Date(s)	One-Line Description
SciFest Ireland	Registration deadline: 12 March 2026	A well-known STEM project showcase for secondary school students in Ireland, ideal for those interested in scientific research, experiments, and innovation projects.
Young Economist of the Year (YEOTY)	Entry submission deadline: 13 March 2026	A well-established economics competition in Ireland that encourages students to explore real-world economic issues through research and analysis.
UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad (Cayley / Hamilton / Maclaurin)	Competition date: 19 March 2026	A follow-on round after the UKMT Intermediate Challenge, suitable for strong maths students who enjoy problem solving and proof-based thinking.
Concern Post-Primary Debates	Quarter Final window: 19–25 March 2026; Semi Final date: 15 April 2026	A major all-island debating programme that helps students develop argumentation, public speaking, and global awareness.
STEM Racing UK National Finals	National Final dates: 24–26 March 2026	A leading STEM engineering competition in which student teams design, test, and race miniature F1-style cars while presenting their engineering and branding work.
Gort-a Go Fast 2026	Competition dates: 7–8 March 2026	An official WCA competition in Ireland, suitable for students who want to compete in speedcubing and multiple cubing events.
TUD Unscramble Day 2026	Competition date: 21 March 2026	An official WCA cubing competition held in Dublin, ideal for students who want to experience a formal cube competition.
Solving Ferry Fast Rosslare 2026	Competition dates: 28–29 March 2026	A two-day official WCA cubing competition in Ireland featuring multiple speedcubing events.
Big Bang UK Competition	Registration deadline: 4 March 2026	A leading UK STEM competition that encourages students to submit project work related to science and engineering.
Robert Walker Prize for Essays in Law (Trinity College Cambridge)	Submission deadline: 2 April 2026	A law essay prize from Trinity College, Cambridge, suitable for secondary school students interested in law, social issues, and academic writing.
Young Enterprise Company Programme	Regional Final stage: March 2026	A hands-on entrepreneurship programme in which students create and run a real student company while developing business and teamwork skills.
UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC)	Regional round dates: 25, 26, 27 March 2026; 18, 21–22, 27–29 April 2026	A UK competition in which student teams design, build, and launch model rockets.
Don’t Go Slow in Wicklow 2026	Competition dates: 11–12 April 2026	An official WCA cubing competition held in Wicklow, suitable for students in Ireland and nearby regions.
Student Robotics Annual Competition	Competition dates: 11–12 April 2026	A major UK student robotics competition in which teams design and program robots to complete live challenges.
Biology Challenge (UKBC)	Competition window: 27 April–11 May 2026	A classic entry-level biology competition in the UK, suitable for secondary school students with an interest in biology.
UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge (JMC)	Competition date: 29 April 2026	A classic UKMT competition for younger students, focusing on logic, reasoning, and mathematical thinking.
Apps for Good Showcase	Project submission deadline: 24 April 2026	An innovation competition in which students design apps or digital solutions to real-world problems, with a strong emphasis on creativity and practical skills.

Which competitions are especially worth prioritising?

If your child is stronger in mathematics, then the most important competitions to watch in March and April are the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad and the UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge. Both are highly representative competitions within the UK secondary school maths competition system.

If your child is more interested in science and project-based competitions, then SciFest Ireland, Big Bang UK Competition, and Biology Challenge are all worth paying close attention to. These competitions place greater emphasis on scientific curiosity, research thinking, and project presentation.

If your child is interested in engineering, technology, and innovation, then the STEM Racing UK National Finals, UK Youth Rocketry Challenge, Student Robotics Annual Competition, and Apps for Good Showcase are all strong options, especially for students who enjoy building projects, coding, or working in teams.

If your child is interested in debating, economics, or entrepreneurship, then Concern Post-Primary Debates, Young Economist of the Year, and the Young Enterprise Company Programme are all excellent options that help develop communication, analysis, leadership, and real-world thinking.

If your child already takes part in speedcubing competitions, there are also several official WCA events in Ireland during March and April, including Gort-a Go Fast, TUD Unscramble Day, and Don’t Go Slow in Wicklow, all of which could fit well into a spring competition plan.

Final thoughts

March and April are a particularly busy period for student competitions in the UK and Ireland. Alongside traditional maths and science contests, there are also more and more opportunities in debating, economics, entrepreneurship, engineering, robotics, innovation projects, and speedcubing. For parents and students, understanding the key dates, registration deadlines, and the type of student each competition suits can make it much easier to plan ahead and prepare effectively.