FIRST Tech Challenge
Robotics, role models and competition – inspire your students with the career-ready skills to engineer a better future.
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Overview
FIRST Tech Challenge is a six-month, student-led, industry-linked robotics programme for young people aged 12-18. From September to March, teams tackle a brand-new engineering challenge, designing, building and coding a robot to compete for industry-judged awards at epic regional and national events. But it's far more than robots.
Teams also develop a business plan covering strategy, fundraising and community outreach – giving young people a well-rounded, real-world experience of STEM. Every team member takes on a defined role, working together like a professional engineering team to achieve their goals and overcome challenges.
Through it all, young people develop the skills that real STEM careers demand, while gaining insight into where those skills can take them.
Teams can access an industry mentor to guide them through the season and act as a relatable role model. They are further supported by local organisations, including universities, STEM companies and other local participating teams, broadening young people's understanding of the pathways available to them. 71% of participants emerge wanting to pursue a STEM career.
Join FIRST Tech Challenge to build more than robots and equip your students with the skills to engineer a better future.
Cost
Full and partial bursaries are available to non-fee-paying schools to offset the cost of the reusable robotics kit.
Full – no kit contribution required
Partial – £300 contribution towards the kit
Applications are assessed based on the provider's targeting criteria to make STEM less intimidating, more diverse and inclusive.
Teams not in receipt of a bursary pay £1,200 for the reusable robotics kit (one-off cost) and the yearly £399 commitment fee.
All organisations pay the yearly £399 commitment fee. Costs are VAT inclusive.
Details
- School subject
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- Technology/computing
- Design and technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- Physics
- Curriculum links
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- Computing
- Physics: Electricity and electromagnetism
- Engineering
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Electricity
- Computing science
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Physics: Electricity
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Technology & design - Communication: Use of ICT tools (including 3D modelling)
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Using electricity
- Technology & design - Control: Incorporate control systems in products
- Technology & design - Control
- Group size
- Small groups
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- Multi-session - set days
- Dates
- 1 September 2026 – 31 March 2027
- Cost
- Cost may apply
- Location
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In-school
- UK-wide
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Attainment and progress
- Learning what the engineering workplace is like
- Develop engineering employability skills
- Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
- Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
Frameworks
Gatsby benchmarks
The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:
- 4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers
- 5 - Encounters with employers and employees
- 6 - Experiences of workplaces
- 7 - Encounters with further and higher education
EqualEx
- Introduce and Inspire
Essential skills
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
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Enrichment framework
- 5 - An accessible and engagement enrichment offer
