CREST Bronze

Fun and engaging short STEM project ideas. Developed by the British Science Association, CREST Bronze projects give students a taste of what it’s like to be a scientist or engineer in the real world.

Secondary

Ages 11 to 18
Online
Flexible project work
Free Bursaries available

Run by British Science Association.

Check availability

CREST Bronze projects are the perfect introduction to STEM project work! They focus on fun and transferable skills, whilst providing the real-life experience of ‘being’ a scientist.

These engaging and inspiring resources give students the opportunity to design, plan, carry out and evaluate a project, developing their own methodology for a hands-on STEM investigation.

Structured plans and workbooks are free to download from the CREST online resource library and can help students record their work, guiding them through the project process.

Carrying out their project over a minimum of 10 hours allows students to develop a range of skills, including communication, enquiry and problem solving.

Cost

Free to use and download from the CREST online resource library.

Students who complete a project can earn a CREST Bronze Award, receiving a certificate to celebrate their achievement! Schools receiving Engage grants or Kick Start grants can get their CREST Awards for free, all other UK schools can receive theirs for a small cost, from £5 per pupil.

Learning outcomes

Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects
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

Subjects and topics

- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Design and Technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- Physics
- Agriculture and food
- Chemical engineering
- Design, art and fashion
- Electronics, robotics and programming
- Energy and environment
- Entertainment, sound and lighting
- General engineering
- Humanitarian aid
- Materials, products and manufacturing
- Medicine and healthcare
- Space and aerospace engineering
- Sport and fitness
- Structures, construction and civil engineering

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:

Learning from career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers

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:

Aiming high - the ability to set clear, tangible goals and devise a robust route to achieving them.
Creativity - the use of imagination and the generation of new ideas.
Leadership - supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal.
Listening - the ability to listen and understand information.
Problem solving - the ability to find a solution to a complex situation or challenge.
Speaking - the oral transmission of information or ideas.
Staying positive - the ability to use tactics to overcome setbacks and achieve goals.
Teamwork - working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.