Explore student competitions.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Beginner, this free UK poetry competition is for children attending nursery or preschool settings, with entries submitted through their setting. Children create a first poem for judging, possible publication and prizes. The main challenge is helping very young writers express an original idea in their own words while keeping the activity playful and age appropriate.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK coding competition where students create programmed solutions to computational thinking problems using block-based or text-based coding. Open to students aged 10+ who previously participated in the UK Bebras Challenge, through their school or as home-educated entrants. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from algorithmic thinking, coding accuracy and solving problems within the 45-minute limit.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Expert, this UK team competition is typically for groups of four to six students aged 16–19 with an adult supervisor. Teams receive a kit, design and build an autonomous robot over several months, then compete through league and knockout stages. The main challenge is integrating mechanical design, electronics, software, testing, project management and resilient teamwork.

QUICK SUMMARY

Make a Difference Challenge is a school-based social-action programme for UK primary pupils aged 5–11, delivered through classroom resources and regional kick-start activity. Schools enrol participating classes rather than individual entrants. The main challenge is identifying a real community issue, planning a practical response and working together to turn pupils' ideas into sustained, explainable action.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, This one-hour, non-calculator physics paper uses multiple-choice problems as the entry stage for the main British Physics Olympiad pathway. It is intended for strong pre-university physics students and is entered through a registered teacher, with successful candidates invited to Round 1. The main challenge is moving quickly from standard A-level knowledge into harder calculations, elimination and unfamiliar problem solving without a calculator.