V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2025–26 Shortlist Announced

Ten finalist teams have been selected from 166 entries for the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2025–26, a design competition for UK students in years 7–9. The challenge asked students to address real-world problems through three themes—REST, JOIN, REIMAGINE—inspired by the museum's Design: 1900–Now galleries. Finalist schools include Kelvin Hall School (East Yorkshire), The Piggott School (Berkshire), Newstead Wood School (London), Rosebery School (Surrey), Waldegrave School (London), Kingdown School (Wiltshire), The Henrietta Barnett School (London), Bonus Pastor Catholic College (London), and The Burgate School and Sixth Form (Hampshire). Their design ideas range from a sleeping bag for special needs and a wellbeing flower light using Red Light Therapy, to a drone that disperses mustard seeds for reforestation and sweets for people with braces. The judging panel includes YouTuber and inventor Colin Furze, food tech entrepreneur Julia Collins (founder of Planet FWD), and architect Larry Botchway (co-founder of POoR collective and RIBA Rising Star 2023). Finalists will pitch their ideas at the V&A on 25 June 2025, with winners announced in July. Awards include REIMAGINE winner, Emerging Innovators, and Student Choice Winner. The challenge reached over 10,000 students across England.