FIRST LEGO League Challenge Comes to Teesside
On Friday 12th December, the halls of Redcar and Cleveland College will be buzzing with excitement. Sixteen teams of young innovators from across Teesside will gather to showcase their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork at our FIRST LEGO League Challenge Teesside tournament. Sponsored by Johnson Matthey, the local STEM company, this event promises to be a celebration of STEM learning and community collaboration.
What is FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge?
FIRST LEGO League Challenge is no ordinary competition. Born from a partnership between the global non-profit FIRST, and LEGO Education, it has grown into one of the world’s most influential STEM programmes for students aged 9 to 16. Each year, teams are presented with a new theme that connects science and engineering to real-world challenges. They must design, build, and program autonomous LEGO robots to complete missions on a themed playing field, while also developing an innovation project that addresses a pressing issue in society. Alongside the technical work, the competition emphasises values such as teamwork, inclusion, and discovery — reminding participants that how they work together is just as important as the solutions they create.
For educators, the competition offers something rare: a chance to see students apply classroom learning in a dynamic, hands-on environment. Coding lessons suddenly come alive when a robot successfully navigates a tricky obstacle. Research skills are sharpened when teams present their innovation projects to panels of judges. And the soft skills that employers prize — communication, resilience, collaboration — are nurtured in every round of the competition. It is no surprise that the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which delivers the programme in the UK, has championed it as a way to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.
The engineers of the future!
Our upcoming Teesside tournament is the first of five events we are running across the north east this year, with the others coming later, in March 2026. But next week, 16 teams will be competing, representing a broad cross-section of local schools, all eager to demonstrate what they have achieved after months of preparation. The atmosphere will be electric: robots whirring across the competition tables, students nervously rehearsing their presentations, and teachers and mentors cheering from the sidelines. For many of these young people, it will be their first taste of a high-profile STEM competition — an experience that could spark a lifelong passion for science and engineering.
Johnson Matthey’s Role in Supporting STEM Futures
Johnson Matthey’s sponsorship adds another layer of meaning to the event. As a company at the forefront of decarbonisation and clean energy, their support underscores the importance of connecting education with industry. By investing in local initiatives like this, they are helping to ensure that Teesside’s young people see a future for themselves in the region’s growing green economy. It is a powerful reminder that STEM education is not just about abstract skills, but about preparing students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
A Call to Action for Educators
For educators, the tournament is an invitation to think beyond the classroom. It is a chance to witness how project-based learning can ignite curiosity and confidence in students. It is also an opportunity to build partnerships with industry and community organisations, ensuring that STEM education in Teesside remains vibrant and relevant. Most importantly, it is a celebration of what young people can achieve when they are given the tools, encouragement, and freedom to explore.
As the countdown to 12th December continues, anticipation is building.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge is more than a competition — it is a movement, one that empowers students to see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators. And for the 16 teams preparing to take the stage at Redcar and Cleveland College, it will be a day to remember: a day when their ideas, their robots, and their teamwork take centre stage in Teesside’s STEM story.
Ready to find out more?
If you are interested in finding out more about FIRST LEGO League, as a school or a volunteer, head to our website to find out more.
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