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Competition

VEX Robotics Competition

Get involved in the world's largest robotics competition and bring your students' STEM skills to life!

VEX Robotics Competition

The VEX Robotics Competition brings STEM skills to life by tasking teams of students with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge.

Using a VEX V5 robotics kit, the team create a robot that meets the demands of the game for that season in a mix of fully autonomous and student driver-controlled matches. They also present their Engineering Notebook to a panel of judges who will look "under the hood" of the robot, the team, and the whole design process.

Classroom STEM concepts are put to the test as students learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, communications, and more.

Tournaments are held year-round at local, regional, and national levels (around 40 in the UK alone) that culminate at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas each April! Every tournament is supported by a team of volunteers along with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Regional Support Manager.

STEM Ambassadors can work with teams to support teachers and also judge at events to give inspiration and guidance to attendees.

The competition is open to all, globally, including school teams, clubs, and independent teams.

Students in the teams learn a range of skills which they can apply and develop in school, as they move into further and higher education and, ultimately, take forward into their careers.

Cost

There is an annual registration fee of £125+VAT for the season. Teams require a robotics kit to build with - this is available from VEX Robotics and can be used year-on-year, so is not an annual fee. Teams can attend as many qualification events as they wish.

Grants are available throughout the season to help groups/schools in low economic areas. Support is available for entry with grants.

Successful bursary applicants will receive a full VEX Robotics Competition kit and Team Registration for the 2023/2024 season. 

 

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects

  • 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

Subjects and topics

    • Computing
    • Design and Technology
    • Engineering
    • Maths
    • Physics
    • Design, art and fashion
    • Electronics, robotics and programming
    • Materials, products and manufacturing
    • Mechanical engineering, systems and processes
    • 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:

  • Addressing the needs of each pupil
  • Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Encounters with further and higher education

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.

What the teachers say

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