The Big Bridge
Step into the world of engineering, build a massive bridge, and spark excitement for STEM through teamwork and fun!
The Neon quality mark shows this activity has been reviewed and meets Neon's quality standards.
Overview
Bring engineering to life in your school with The Big Bridge. A thrilling, hands-on STEM experience where students work together to build a 13-metre long, 3-metre high cable-stayed bridge… then walk across it!
Led by real engineers, this high-energy workshop gives pupils the chance to step into the role of civil and structural engineers for the day. Working in teams, they’ll develop problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills while learning how STEM subjects apply in the real world. From planning and coordination to construction and reflection, every moment is packed with teamwork, creativity and excitement.
The Big Bridge is designed to spark curiosity, raise aspirations and break stereotypes. Students hear first-hand from engineers about their career journeys, routes into the industry, and what a future in construction and design might look like. The experience is ideal for promoting STEM careers, supporting curriculum learning and offering students role models they can relate to.
The bridge kit is fully portable, and workshop facilitators bring everything needed to run the session safely and successfully in your school.
Please note:
an assembly or sports hall with double doors accessible from a parking / delivery area
depending on requirements, multiple sessions can be delivered per day or over several days
Details
- Curriculum links
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- Physics: Motion and forces
- Engineering
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Forces
- Technologies - Craft, design, engineering and graphics: Application of engineering
- Physics: Forces
- Design thinking and engineering: Engineering
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Forces and energy transfer
- Technology & design - Design
- Technology & design - Control
- Working scientifically
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- Asking questions
- Observing and measuring
- Interpreting and communicating results
- Evaluating
- Group size
- Whole class, Whole year group
10 to 30 students per session
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- 1 to 2 hours
Ideal session time is 1 hour
- Cost
- Cost applies
A full-day event for 120 students across multiple workshops is £1,000
- Location
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In-school
- Northern Ireland
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Attainment and progress
- Learning what the engineering workplace is like
- 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
EqualEx
The equalex framework allows educators to embed meaningful workplace experiences within a progressive whole school careers programme.
- 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 engaging enrichment offer
- 7 - An outcomes-focused enrichment offer
