TechNExt, the North East’s leading tech festival, is thrilled to announce that after the success of its first year, the Schools Challenge is back for 2025.
The challenge aims to engage 9-13 year-old school children from across the North East in technology and to gain an insight into the industry.
In 2024, the challenge engaged students across the region to consider solutions to real life problems through tech and working with tech industry professionals. We celebrated their work at a celebration event during the week of TechNExt and beyond that, exhibited their work in a number of regional sites; such as Eldon Square and the Bridges Shopping Centre Sunderland.
Please see this year’s Schools Challenge information pack which includes useful information for schools on how to get involved and what the challenge entails.
You can find more information on the challenge on the TechNExt web page.
Your support in promoting the 2025 challenge would be much appreciated. We are keen to encourage wide participation across the region, with representation from a range of schools and student abilities and to grow the reach of last years initiative.
Please see below for newsletter and social media messaging copy:
Empowering the Next Generation of Tech Innovators
New to TechNExt in 2024, the Schools Challenge returns this year to engage more North East school children in tech and with tech employers in the region.
The initiative is designed to inspire young students, aged 9-13 years across the region, and aims to spark their interest in the tech industry by connecting them with local tech employers and opening up the opportunities technology presents. The Schools Challenges encourages schools to consider how to use technology creatively to solve real-world problems, with an emphasis on ‘Tech for Good.’ By working with regional tech company mentors, to completing challenges within the classroom, the hope is for students to let their creative ideas flow around themes such as gaming, online safety, climate change and cyber & AI. Submissions will be reviewed by an industry panel, with a selection of entering schools invited to showcase the creative work from across the region at a celebration event on Friday 20 June at South Shields Customs House.
Schools can submit up to 10 entries each, with a deadline of 9th May.
Know a school that would be interested? Please ask them to complete the expression of interest and find out more. For any questions, please contact getinvolved@technext.co.uk.
Open to students aged 9-13, the Schools Challenge offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to dive into the world of tech, meet industry leaders, and compete with fellow young innovators! ✏️👩💻
Get Involved now! https://www.technext.co.uk/programme/events/schools-challenge
📅 Deadline: 9th May
📧 Submit an expression of interest to get involved 🔗⬇️
16-20 June 2025
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