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The Big Bridge

Step into the world of engineering, build a massive bridge, and spark excitement for STEM through teamwork and fun!

The Big Bridge

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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.

Important information

  • Workshop capacity: 10 to 30 students per session.
  • Ideal session time is 1 hour.
  • 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.
  • A full-day event for 120 students across multiple workshops is £1,000. Please contact the provider directly for a quotation.

About The Big Bridge

The Big Bridge works with schools across Northern Ireland and Ireland, including those in rural, cross-community and high free-school-meal eligibility areas.

They offer female-only celebration events and adapt delivery to suit a wide range of learning needs and school settings.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects

  • 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

Topics

  • Forces
  • Structures
  • Mechanisms

Working scientifically

Whichever curriculum your school follows, pupils should have the opportunity to carry out practical investigations in science that help them to develop their scientific skills. This experience builds the following enquiry skills:

  • Asking questions
  • Observing and measuring
  • Interpreting and communicating results
  • Evaluating

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:

  • Planning - Setting goals and designing routes to achieve them

  • Leadership - Supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal

  • Problem solving - Finding solutions to challenges

  • Adapting - Overcoming challenges and setbacks to achieve goals

  • Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal

Good for a career in...

  • Construction
  • Design
  • Environment
What the teachers say

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