PRIMARY NEWS Baxi and Primary Engineer deliver STEM lessons to primary pupils
Nearly 1,400 primary school pupils have built working engineering projects as part of Baxi’s fifth year supporting children’s STEM learning through Primary Engineer. The 2025-2026 partnership marks the start of a new expanded three-year programme between Baxi and Primary Engineer, funded by the BDR Thermea Foundation. The first part of the partnership consists of the construction programme, curriculum- linked engineering projects for
participating primary schools across Preston and Warwick that encourage pupils to design, build and present their ideas.
This year, with the help of their teachers and 21 Baxi volunteers, pupils at 25 participating primary schools in Preston and Warwick were tasked with building tipper trucks out of shoeboxes and lighthouse towers with working electrical circuits.
Natasha Kinnear, Head of Partnerships at Primary Engineer, said: “There is something truly wonderful about seeing young girls passionately
engage with our Primary Engineer Construction Programme. You witness firsthand the resilience they show if their design fails and the pure magic when it works. While the ‘buzz’ of winning a prize and the joy of our celebration days are highlights, the real impact lies beyond these moments. Our approach is about creating lasting memories, developing skills and opening doors to these girls.”
The second part of the partnership is the UK-wide ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ STEM competition. For this initiative, pupils aged 3 to 19 are invited to engage with engineering and technology professionals and design innovative solutions to real word problems. The winning designs will be celebrated later in the year at 25 regional Award Ceremonies.
Primary Engineer’s activities are designed to introduce children to engineering and engineering professionals, and to spark curiosity and creativity among the participants.
An impact report produced by Primary Engineer on the school engineering projects revealed that an impressive 100% of the teachers involved reported an increase in their understanding of engineering. All the participating teachers agreed that Primary Engineer’s training helped them understand how to make an impact on engineering career aspirations and left them with an increased confidence in teaching STEM subjects.
Learning by Questions wins award for primary school platform
Learning by Questions (LbQ) has won the Best Digital Learning Platform for Schools award in the EdTech Innovation Hub (ETIH) Innovation Awards 2026.
The tech innovator’s digital solutions empower teachers to deliver evidence-informed, high- impact teaching in over 1,500 schools across the UK.
In a study of Year 6 primary school teachers using LbQ, 100% reported a reduced workload, 92% experienced improved wellbeing and 98%
achieved better pupil outcomes (LbQ SATs Springboard Impact Report 23/24).
“This award is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone at LbQ, and their dedication to creating a learning ecosystem that supports schools, teachers and students every day,” said Greg Adam, Managing Director at LbQ.
Emma Cate Thompson, Editor and Cofounder of ETIH said: “This is a fantastic achievement, especially in the first year of the awards. We received more than 140 submissions from across the UK, USA, Canada, and wider international markets, and the standard across the categories was incredibly strong. LbQ’s entry really stood out to the judges, and they should be very proud of this recognition.”
In addition, the education tech specialist was highly commended in the EdTech Company of the Year (UK) category of the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026, and shortlisted in the Best Teacher Empowerment Tool category.
Premier League Primary Stars offers free PE resources ahead of National School Sports Week
Teachers can start planning for National School Sports Week (6–12 July) with Premier League Primary Stars’ range of free, curriculum-linked resources – from KS1 skill-builders to leadership activities and inclusive SEND sessions.
KS1 PE Mascot Skill Films: learning through familiar faces. Young learners respond to familiar, friendly faces - and these bitesize films deliver exactly that. Featuring well-known football mascots, each video demonstrates a curriculum PE skill that pupils can then have a go at themselves. Teachers simply press play at the start of the lesson and let the mascots do the work.
Sensory circuits: PE for pupils with SEND. Inclusive PE is at the heart of National School Sports Week - and this resource pack makes it genuinely achievable. Designed specifically for pupils with SEND, it supports teachers in delivering a lesson where pupils create their own sensory circuit, either in small teams, individually, or alongside a teaching assistant.
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www.education-today.co.uk
The pack targets physical, cognitive and emotional skills, giving pupils with a wide range of needs a meaningful and empowering PE experience. It’s a strong standalone resource, but also works well as part of a broader inclusive sports day approach.
Playground Champions: building leaders on and off
the pitch. Made in partnership with EA Sports FC Futures, Playground Champions is about more than physical skills - it’s about helping pupils develop the mindset and character of a good leader and teammate. Through five quick, adaptable activities that combine football and gaming footage, pupils explore what it means to champion a positive and inclusive culture.
June 2026
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