Winners announced for NFU’s Farmvention competition

The NFU developed Farmvention as part of its education strategy which aims to bridge the gap between children and food, farming and the countryside (Photo: NFU Education)
The NFU developed Farmvention as part of its education strategy which aims to bridge the gap between children and food, farming and the countryside (Photo: NFU Education)

Nine primary schools have won farm-related prizes after entering a UK-wide education competition organised by the NFU.

The union has announced the winners of its national STEM competition, Farmvention, which encouraged children to design a tractor and a new snack made from British ingredients.

The winners will be showcasing their designs at an exhibition at the House of Commons during British Science Week, where the overall champion will be decided.

The competition, launched in September, asked children at primary schools to submit entries that solved one of three farming-related issues using Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, referred to as STEM subjects.

The NFU received more than 1,000 entries for the competition.

The overall champion will win the grand prize of having their school turned into a farm for the day.

NFU President, Minette Batters said: “This is the NFU’s first national competition for primary schools and there has been an incredible amount of enthusiasm from both teachers and pupils.

“With more than a thousand schools entering their designs, the competition clearly demonstrates that food and farming has a place in education; not only to engage young children in STEM subjects, but to develop their understanding about rural life and where their food comes from.”

Competition winners

• KS1 Tractor of the future: Settle C of E Primary, Settle, North East

• KS2L Tractor of the future: Afeefa Haroon – Ronald Ross Primary School, London, South East

• KS2U Tractor of the future: Tracticians – Armitage C of E Primary School, Manchester, North West

• Healthy Hens KS1: Class 2H – Glascote Academy, Tamworth, West Midlands

• Healthy Hens KS2L: Oscar Brownmoore - St. Aidan's VC Primary School, London, South East

• Healthy Hens KS2U: Emily Bailey – Bridgewater Primary School, Northampton, East Midlands

• A Great British Snack KS1: Dosbarth y Gleision – Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, Wales

• A Great British Snack KS2L: Toby Barribel – Wonersh and Shamley Green Primary School, Guildford, South East

• A Great British Snack KS2U: Team Fruity Flow – St John Fisher, Catholic Primary School, Coventry, West Midlands