We are thrilled to announce the shortlist for the annual V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2025 – 26, a celebration of young people’s imaginative and inspiring design ideas.
Working in teams, we asked students in years 7, 8 and 9 to come up with ideas to help solve real-world problems. This year, they chose to explore one of three contextual challenges – REST, JOIN, REIMAGINE. These were inspired by our Design: 1900 – Now galleries, which ask critical questions about contemporary issues in our world today.
Students investigated the theme, undertook research in their school or local area, and used iteration and prototyping to come up with an idea that could have a positive impact on people and the planet. Teams then entered two design sheets describing their design journey and their idea. From the 166 entries received this year, our industry judging panel helped select ten finalist teams who are invited to the V&A on 25 June to pitch their ideas to the judges.
2025-26 Judges
Our inspiring judges this year are:
Colin Furze
Colin Furze is a YouTuber and inventor with his channel promising to be the home of crazy ideas, brilliant world records and constant disregard to health and safety. His most viewed video to date is his homemade hoverbike, currently is charting at 51M views. Other inventions he’s worked on include a jet bicycle, DIY wolverine claws, and his secret garage project.
Julia Collins
Julia Collins is a food tech entrepreneur who got her start in New York’s restaurant scene before helping to launch Zume Pizza — a company that uses robotics and automation to make pizza. In 2019, she went on to found Planet FWD, a platform that helps consumer brands understand and reduce their carbon footprints.
Larry Botchway
Larry Botchway is an architect, tutor and engagement enthusiast, with experience in a variety of sectors. He co-founded the socially minded design and engagement practice POoR (Power Out of Restriction) collective. In addition to being one of RIBA Rising Stars of 2023, Larry has worked at We Made That, Haworth Tompkins Architects, and Perpendicular Architecture.
Left to right: Colin Furze, Larry Botchway, Dr Helen Charman © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
To see some of our previous judges in action, go watch their COLLECT, MAKE, SHARE process using the links below:
Awards
At the Pitching & Awards Day the judges will select winners for seven awards:
Overall winner
REST winner
JOIN winner
REIMAGINE winner
Best Pitch
Emerging Innovators
The Student Choice Winner Award (this is voted for on the day by students)
Finalists and winners receive trophies to take back to school and the overall winners will receive a free workshop. V&A Innovate is a core part of our mission to champion the vital place of creative education on the curriculum and to nurture the change-makers of tomorrow. Teachers delivered the project over the Summer, Autumn and Spring terms to over 10,000 students, during lessons or as part of lunchtime or after school clubs. We were delighted to receive so many well-researched, thoughtful, imaginative, and impactful ideas from students from all over the country. Congratulations to all who took part.
Finalist Schools and their Design Ideas
REST
Kelvin Hall School, East Yorkshire – Five Peas in a Pod
A design for a sleeping bag for those with special needs, with features to calm and nurture rest.
The Piggott School, Berkshire – Mindbloom
A wellbeing flower light, which uses Red Light Therapy to support young people, who need support managing wellbeing and mental health.
Newstead Wood School, London – Planet Plush
A system to repurpose and recycle toys once discarded. Produced toys are designed to support children facing restlessness and bedtime anxiety, who struggle to rest.
JOIN
Rosebery School, Surrey – Team Elizabeth
A set of sensory cutlery to improve dining experience for autistic people in restaurants. Prototypes provide users with features to stimulate their brain whilst waiting for food.
Waldegrave School, London – Gripper
A flexible popsocket‑style grip designed to help people with limited hand mobility hold everyday objects more easily.
Kingdown School, Wiltshire – Breaktime Comfort
A modular K’nex‑inspired bench and shelter system made from recycled plastics and 3D‑printed connectors, designed to help schools create flexible outdoor spaces.
The Henrietta Barnett School, London – Wind + Water Cowl
A compact renewable-energy device for homes that combines a wind cowl and a water-harvesting system.
REIMAGINE
Bonus Pastor Catholic College, London – Drone
The ‘Eco Guardian Drone’ is a solar‑powered device that uses AI and onboard imaging to identify deforested areas and disperse mustard seeds to support reforestation.
Newstead Wood School, London – Smileys
A variety of sweets that are designed specifically for people with braces. These snacks are made to not pull on any wires or brackets within the user’s mouth.
The Burgate School and Sixth Form, Hampshire – The Fidgeters
A fidget based around a ruler design which is appropriate for school. The students used their own experiences with ASD, ADHD and anxiety to develop the fidget function.
Winners will be announced in July following the Pitching & Awards Day. Wishing luck to all teams!
V&A Innovate Pitching & Awards Day 18 March 2025
V&A Innovate resources are free to access for any school, and the National Schools Challenge is open to state-funded secondary schools in England.
Find out more about V&A Innovate.
With its incredibly addictive gameplay, cookie clickerkeeps players glued to the screen as they witness the dizzying growth of numbers, from a few individual cookies to trillions upon trillions of cookies per second thanks to its massive upgrade system.
I always look forward to these awards and the inspiring ideas they generate. All these proposals sound well conceived and impactful. I’m keen to visit the related display later this year.
sensory cutlery a small idea but could genuinely help people feel more comfortable. @geometry dash spam