About the Schools Challenge

Held annually, the IStructE Schools Challenge is a practical 'design and make' activity, organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers, assisted by Input and funded by the Institution's Educational Trust.

Now in its second year, the event is designed to promote awareness of structural engineering and the part that it plays in the modern environment to students aged between 14 and 16 years. The approach taken however is not that of a 'hard sell' to students, but rather that of encouraging students to consider structural engineering as a possibility for a challenging and rewarding career.

Students are required to work in small teams to design and build a model of a structure (e.g. a bridge or stadium) using well-known, exemplary projects as inspiration. The teams are given only limited materials to work with (paper tubes, string, metal pins). Structural engineers are on hand to act as consultants to the teams during the activity.

Though there will be an element of competition, the emphasis is on trying to ensure that all teams achieve a high level of success. The teams have an opportunity to present their models to the group at the end of the workshop and explain why they chose their designs and the key aspects of their structures.

The Schools Challenge is currently only open to students attending schools in the London region (no more than two teams are put forward from each invited school, and each team contains a maximum of six students).

The workshop is informative, challenging and great fun for all those who participate. It presents a fantastic opportunity to engage with both students and teachers about the benefits of structural engineering in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.