The National Farmers Union has today announced the winners of its national STEM competition, Farmvention.

Nine primary schools have all won incredible prizes which include fully funded farm visits, chef visits and £600 to spend on robotics products for the school.

The winners will be showcasing their designs at an exhibition at the House of Commons during British Science Week, where the overall champion will be decided.

The competition, launched in September, asked children at primary schools to submit entries that solved one of three farming-related issues using Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths:

  • Design a tractor of the future;
  • Design an environment for a flock of 100 laying hens;
  • Design a new snack product from four British ingredients.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “This is the NFU’s first national competition for primary schools and there has been an incredible amount of enthusiasm from both teachers and pupils.

“With more than a thousand schools entering their designs, the competition clearly demonstrates that food and farming has a place in education; not only to engage young children in STEM subjects, but to develop their understanding about rural life and where their food comes from.

“I can’t wait to see the creative designs that our young inventors have produced at the exhibition in March.”

Winners

The NFU received more than 1,000 entries for the competition. The champion will win the grand prize of having their school turned into a farm for the day. The winners are:

Tractor of the future

  • KS1: Settle C of E Primary, Settle, North East;
  • KS2L: Afeefa Haroon – Ronald Ross Primary School, London, South East;
  • KS2U: Tracticians – Armitage C of E Primary School, Manchester, North West;

Healthy Hens

  • KS1: Class 2H – Glascote Academy, Tamworth, West Midlands;
  • KS2L: Oscar Brownmoore – St. Aidan’s VC Primary School, London, South East;
  • KS2U: Emily Bailey – Bridgewater Primary School, Northampton, East Midlands.

A Great British Snack

  • KS1: Dosbarth y Gleision – Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, Wales;
  • KS2L: Toby Barribel – Wonersh and Shamley Green Primary School, Guildford, South East;
  • KS2U: Team Fruity Flow – St John Fisher, Catholic Primary School, Coventry, West Midlands.
FARMVENTION RURAL YOUTH