Under the competition, teams of
(four to six) young people are asked to
come up with an innovation to a real
TfL challenge relating to any element
of the Mayor of London’s Transport
strategy. This spans the transport network,
healthy streets and people, and new
jobs and homes “lending itself to a
variety of subjects at Years 12 & 13”.
“We want to engage students with
an interest in STEM while also appealing
to those who have turned away from
it,” explains Lloyd.
Blended learning
The programme is flexible and can be
delivered using a blend of guided and
independent learning. Lloyd adds that
the challenge simulates work
experience, benefiting all participants;
each team member takes a lead,
whether in project management;
finance; tech or creativity. He stresses
that proactivity is encouraged.
“Our handbook prompts students to
take actions: when will they meet next
and where? Who will do what? It’s
simple things, but teachers are time-
poor, so we see this as helping to instil
in pupils some of the employability skills
that can be difficult to bring into the
classroom. Plus, as an employer, we’re
bringing ourselves in and showing what
we look like as a business.”
An initial launch event is delivered at
each school by TfL, which also provides
four lesson plans, related resources,
plus access to support from ‘TfL
innovators’. Students must produce a
five-minute filmed presentation about
their innovation; a 30-second advert
and a design concept.
After shortlisting, the top four teams
are supported to re-film their
presentation. “It creates quite a buzz in
the school,” says Lloyd, “ a buzz that can
sometimes be quite hard for teachers
to create.”
The teams then attend a final event
in March at TfL’s offices, where they are
judged by its senior decision makers.
“Ultimately, we’re not looking for the
school with the best AV equipment,
we’re looking for brave and innovative
thinking,” concludes Lloyd.
STEM
QUICK
• Engineering is
about finding
creative solutions
to challenges.
• To show this, TfL runs an annual
Innovate Schools Challenge, open
to secondary schools, colleges
and youth groups.
• This simulates work experience
and helps teachers bring employability
skills into the classroom.
ABOUT TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
TfL is the integrated transport authority responsible
for delivering the Mayor of London’s strategy and
commitments on transport. It works with schools
around employability and runs a range of
apprenticeships and a graduate scheme.
Graduate scheme: tfl.gov.uk/graduates
Apprenticeships: tfl.gov.uk/apprentices
“The pupils have
learned, enjoyed
and had a platform
to put their own
ideas forward”
KEVIN BURKE, HEADTEACHER,
GUNNERSBURY CATHOLIC SCHOOL,
WEST LONDON
FUTURE TALENT // 59