IET Faraday Challenge Days

The IET’s Faraday Challenge is a one-day practical Electronics competition for Key Stage 3 schoolchildren, based on the BBC’s micro:bit, a pocket-sized codable computer. The Challenge Days are held at universities and venues across the UK, with 36 pupils taking part at each event. The competition changes every year, so details are top secret until all the Challenge Days in a year have taken place.

The IET Faraday Challenge Days offer the chance to research, design and make prototype solutions to electronic engineering problems in a competitive environment, with prizes for pupils in the winning team as well as a trophy for their school. The top three teams in the country also have the opportunity to compete in an all-expenses paid final with a £1,000 cash prize for the school.

Our involvement

The IET has more schools registered than they can provide STEM days for. The UKESF supported the IET by providing funds and connecting our partner universities as venues – in 2016 we supported ten additional Challenge Days, benefitting a total of 360 children.

In addition, once all the Challenge Days in a year have been completed, our scholars are able to make use of the competition resources when they make educational visits to schools that have micro:bits.

Find out more

Schools can register to take part by visiting the IET website.