1. The V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge is a free educational project run by the Victoria and Albert Museum (the "Promoter").
2. Entry to the project is open to all England-based students aged 11 – 14 years who are currently in years 7, 8, or 9 of state-funded secondary school (the "Schools"). The project is open to teams of four to six students (the "Teams"). There is no minimum or maximum number of entries per School but there must only be one entry per Team and a student may only form part of one Team.
3. The Promoter will assemble a Judging Panel of suitably qualified and experienced individuals to assess the entries.
4. To enter the project, final design sheets along with an entry form must be emailed to innovate@vam.ac.uk no later than 11.59pm on 5 February 2027 to be considered by the Judging Panel. Entries submitted any other way, including by hard copy, will not be accepted. Schools should submit on behalf of the Teams and may submit multiple entries, but only one entry per Team.
5. The Promoter shall not be responsible for late, lost or delayed entries or network, computer hardware or software failures of any kind that may delay or restrict entry to the project.
6. The project runs until 5 February 2027 when submissions close. Ten Teams will be selected to attend the Innovate Pitching and Awards Day at the V&A, South Kensington taking place in the 2027 Spring Term. Finalists are required to attend pitching and awards day in person. If a team is unable to attend their place in the final will be awarded to the next highest scoring team. Schools will be informed whether they are finalists in March 2027.
7. Every student who enters work for consideration will receive a certificate. These will be posted to Schools after the entries have been submitted. There is no alternative prize or cash alternative.
8. All the ten finalists will receive: the opportunity to attend the Innovate Pitching and Awards Day and an Innovate Finalist 2027 plaque to display at school.
9. Of the ten finalists there will be seven winning Teams selected by the Judging Panel across seven categories. The winning Teams will receive an Innovate trophy. There is no alternative prize or cash alternative.
10. An overall winner will be selected. The overall winning Team will receive an invitation to a free bespoke workshop with a designer at the V&A, South Kensington. A suitable date will be arranged directly with the winning school. If the Team is unable to visit the V&A, the promoter will offer the option of the workshop taking place at the winning Team's School. There is no alternative prize or cash alternative.
11. All Teams should keep their original design or artwork and winners must be able to provide the original design or artwork to the Promoter upon request.
12. The Judging Panel's decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into. The names of the Judges will be made available on request, subject to applicable law.
Last updated May 2026