Infinite Learning STEM Challenge 2026

INFINITE LEARNING

STEM CHALLENGE

Designed for 10 – 14 years olds (UK Curriculum Years 6, 7, 8, 9)

2026

INFINITE LEARNING in collaboration with Visionary Education Consultancy Limited

S SCIENCE T TECHNOLOGY E ENGINEERING M MATHEMATICS STEM education equips students with the skills needed for high-demand, highimpact careers. From data science to robotics, healthcare to environmental engineering — STEM fields are the foundation of modern industries. STEM education isn’t just about science and numbers — it’s about curiosity, innovation, and preparing students to thrive in a complex, tech-driven world.

As a part of our 10-year anniversary celebration, we are excited to launch the

Infinite Learning STEM Challenge

Are Your Students Ready to Lead the Future?

Empower students to adapt swiftly, embrace innovation, and seize new and exciting opportunities with confidence.

Inspiring Students. Elevating Learning. Shaping the Future.

Questions and Answers What is the Infinite Learning STEM Challenge and why should your school get involved?

Why has Infinite Learning chosen to launch a STEM Challenge?

In short, because it is going to be fun and exciting! It will also provide an important opportunity that is not currently available to schools in the region.

In this rapidly changing world our approach to education needs to move beyond that which is conformist, repetitive and regurgitative, to one which prepares students to respond quickly to change, new initiatives and exciting opportunities. Formal education no longer has the role of preparing students for a job for life but rather must seek to empower students, enabling them to become efficient and effective independent learners and equip them with the skills to rapidly evolve in our changing world. Exciting times need innovative responses.

What is STEM and why is it so important?

Countries around the world know that STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are integral to the economic success of a country and that schools can make a major contribution to the preparation of a highly skilled workforce in STEM related employment. It is now well recognised that including STEM education in the curriculum can raise standards in all STEM subjects and support interdisciplinary learning by connecting STEM with other academic fields, including languages, humanities and the arts. Research shows that a focus on STEM education can lead to increased motivation, engagement, success and progression into careers in these subjects.

Do you know about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda and the important role education has to play in achieving these goals?

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives adopted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. Education has a huge part to play in achieving these objectives. You can find out more here: UNESCO 2030.

Why is this relevant to STEM initiatives in schools?

By integrating the SDGs into the curriculum, especially through STEM, schools can inspire students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and innovate for a better world. This engagement helps students understand the interconnectedness of global challenges and empowers them to become active, responsible global citizens, driving change within their communities and beyond.

You can find out more here: UNPACKING SDG4 EDUCATION. STEM education is not simply the delivery of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as isolated subjects within a wider curriculum but, rather, a more holistic approach which enables the development of not only students’ academic achievements but also their ability to integrate thinking and develop the skills to make significant and innovative contributions to real life problems.

This is at the central core of the Infinite Learning Stem Challenge.

So, what is the Infinite Learning STEM Challenge and how will your students benefit from being involved?

The Infinite Learning Stem Challenge will require students to work independently to respond to a brief. Teachers will facilitate their experience but are not allowed to help students beyond signposting or encouraging teams. We know students respond well to the freedom granted by being able to decide on their own ideas and develop them independently. They learn to apply existing knowledge and seek out ways to develop new knowledge. In the world of innovation, they learn that finding out what does not work is just as much a success as finding out what does work. As a result, this develops their confidence in trying new ideas and thinking. They develop their understanding of teamwork and their individual contributions to this, developing skills they can take forward into their future place of work. The sense of achievement they get from developing their own ideas empowers them and supports them in recognising their future ambitions. STEM Challenges go far beyond academic knowledge, and assessment of teams recognises this, scoring many other elements than simply just the final product.

How is the Challenge designed?

A unique challenge has been written solely for the 2026 Infinite Learning STEM Challenge. We cannot give you the details of this as it must remain top secret until it is presented to those schools who are going to take part. What we can tell you, however, is that it is based on a real-life engineering problem and will enable the students to design and build creative and innovative prototypes which meet the requirements of the brief.

Who is the Challenge aimed at and how many teams can each school enter?

The Challenge is designed for 10–14 years olds (UK Curriculum Years 6, 7, 8, 9) organised into teams of 5 (maximum) or 3 (minimum), which can be single or cross-aged groups. Most schools run the Challenge as an Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA) across 7-weeks (7 x 1-hour sessions).

What training and support do schools and teachers receive?

All teachers who wish to deliver the Challenge in their school will need to be accredited. Following acceptance of your application, you will be invited to a 1-day accreditation training. You will be introduced to the Challenge, trained to deliver and assess it in your school and supported in developing the required skills and knowledge to be able to guide students appropriately.

When and where does the Challenge take place?

At the end of the accreditation training, each teacher will be given electronic copies of all documents required to run the Challenge in their school. The challenge will take 7 hours to complete and will include the following sessions which can be run as a 7-week ECA programme: Sessions 1: Introduction to the Challenge and the project brief (1 hour).

Session 2: Planning phase – identifying problems and generating ideas. Selection of team roles (1 hour).

Session 3-5: Development phase over 3-sessions – the Infinite Learning ‘Shop’ will open and students will purchase items and build their prototypes (3 hours).

Session 4: Presentation planning – students prepare and rehearse their presentations (1 hour).

Session 5: Presentations (10 minutes per team including questions). Time allocation TBC depending on how many teams your school enters.

The Challenge is typically run as an extra-curricular activity over 7-sessions. The Challenge must be completed between 1st April and 31st May 2026 and take no longer than the designated time allowed.

You can run the Challenge with as many students as you wish but we suggest no more than 10 teams in order to make it manageable. When you have run the Challenge with all your teams, you will select the highest scoring team to come to the Infinite Learning STEM Challenge celebration event in April.

What is the ‘Challenge Shop’?

Schools will need to put together a ‘shop’ from which the students can purchase the equipment they need to develop their design.

Most schools will have many of these shop items already, but they may need to purchase some items. We keep the cost of all shop items low to enable all schools to take part and will give guidance on purchasing at the accreditation training. Students will have a limited amount of money from the ‘Bank of Infinite’ to buy the resources they need and these banknotes will be provided to schools at the accreditation training.

How is the Challenge assessed? How many teams attend the Celebration Event?

Schools will run the Challenge in their own school as an ECA, marking each team according to the assessment criteria provided at the accreditation training, and will send their highest scoring team to the celebration event planned for mid-April.

Schools will need to register and pay for their teams. Schools will coordinate payments with parents and be responsible for collecting all student details.

Designed for 10 – 14 years olds (UK Curriculum Years 6, 7, 8, 9) What are the timelines for participating in and completing the Challenge?

The Infinite Learning STEM Challenge has been postponed until further notice.

This is due to the current situation in the Middle East and flight restrictions preventing the trainers from flying to Dubai.

As soon as we have more details we will let you know. For any other queries, please email admin@infinitelearning.ae.

How much does it cost to enter my school and what are the booking deadlines?

Challenge Fee

Price

Per Student Fee

AED 375

Booking Deadline TBC

How do schools fund team participation in the Challenge?

Schools will typically run the Challenge as an extra-curricular activity. The price includes the 1-day face-to-face accreditation training programme in Dubai for 2 teachers OR 1 teacher and 2 Year 12/13 students per school, all the resources as listed in the STEM Challenge brochure and of course, the final Challenge Celebration Event for the winning teams, in Dubai in June 2026.

What does this price include? What training and support will we receive throughout the Challenge?

FREE face-to-face STEM Challenge training in Dubai (2 teachers OR 1 teacher and 2 Year 12/13 students per school) Training guide workbook Electronic copies of all resources needed to run this unique STEM challenge (including student booklet and teacher guide) Assessment guide with examples to help moderation of marking between teams.

PPT slides ‘Shop List’ of STEM items required for the Challenge (most of these items are commonly found in most Science or DT departments) ‘Infinite Bank’ notes for teams to purchase items from the ‘Challenge Shop’ Celebration event in Dubai for STEM Challenge winning teams

Are there any additional costs my school needs to consider?

There may be some minor reprographic costs and you may need to purchase some small items for ‘The Challenge Shop’.

Are there certificates and awards for the winning teams?

Schools will be provided with certificate templates so that all team members can receive a certificate of participation. Successful teams, that are selected by your school to attend the Celebration Day event, will receive awards.

Who is Infinite Learning working with to deliver this challenge?

We are proud to be working in collaboration with Visionary Education Consultancy Limited.

Dr. Keira Hart, founder of Visionary Education Consultancy Limited, has been supporting science and STEM developments for over 35 years. With a background in science education, she has delivered teacher CPD in science, STEM and leadership and management in both the primary and secondary sectors both in the UK and in the UAE. Alongside this, she has worked closely with companies and organisations wishing to extend their community offer, including GoApe!, Paulton’s Park, British Nuclear Group and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, by developing STEM resources which are linked to the UK curriculum.

In 2012, the Visionary Education STEM Challenge was launched in response to companies, particularly in engineering, increasingly voicing the desire for future candidates who could demonstrate not only technical expertise, but also skills in communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, teamwork, and leadership abilities.

Visionary Education became a limited company in 2015 at which time it also took over the development and delivery of the IET Faraday® Challenge Days which were designed to encourage 12-13 year olds to take up a career in engineering. Phil Hart joined the company at this point, bringing along his expertise in the commercial sector and fresh eyes on the development of education related materials.

Visionary Education Consultancy Limited continues to work with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to write, develop and deliver the IET Faraday® Challenge Days and the DIY challenges and to deliver their own Visionary Education STEM challenge. They are currently working with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the south of England to develop a STEM Challenge based around speed and motoring and a girls in STEM day for local schools.

How does my school register to be part of the Infinite Learning STEM Challenge 2026?

Schools will need to register and pay for their teams. Schools will coordinate payments with parents and be responsible for collecting all student details.

What information do we need from you to register?

School Name School Country Completed by Contact Completed by Email Number of Students

Number of Teams Name of Headteacher Email of Headteacher ECA Contact/Email Accounts Contact/Email

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE BOOKING FORM

Please read the following Terms and Conditions carefully: 1.Once completed, this booking form stands as a binding contractual agreement.

2.Payment must be made in full by no later than Friday 27th February 2026.

3.Notification of cancellation must be received prior to the booking deadline (Friday 27th February 2026) or you will incur full costs.

4.The full fee will be payable for failed attendance.

5.Infinite Learning reserves the right to cancel the Challenge as a result of insufficient numbers to run the competition or circumstances beyond its control, without incurring liability and will endeavour to give adequate notice.

6.Infinite Learning is not responsible for associated costs incurred by delegates when booking onto, attending the Challenge, or arising from cancellation/postponement.

7.Please email this booking to Paola Wingrove - paola@infinitelearning.ae.

For further information, please contact: Rebecca (rebecca@infinitelearning.ae) Paola (paola@infinitelearning.ae)

www.infinitelearning.ae/infinite-learning-stem-challenge

INFINITE LEARNING

2026

INFINITE LEARNING

STEM CHALLENGE www.infinitelearning.ae/infinite-learning-stem-challenge