Global Challenges Movement
Students investigate important issues facing the world today and work together to create practical campaigns,…
Intellectual Development
The Inventor's Laboratory
Students design, build and improve creative solutions to real-world problems through engineering and innovation challenges.
Intellectual Development
National Schools Innovation Blueprint
Overview
What students will do
Investigate
Explore real problems that need creative solutions.
Create
Design, build and improve prototype ideas.
Present
Share solutions and explain design decisions.
Programme Structure
Rotational modules
Sessions rotate through six practical modules, each building towards the final professional outcome.
1
Identifying the problem
2
Designing a solution
3
Building and testing
4
Presenting the invention
Professional Roles
Students work in professional roles
Every student takes on a role within their team, mirroring how professionals collaborate in the real world.
Medical Researcher
Investigates scientific discoveries to improve health and medicine.
Aerospace Engineer
Designs technology for aircraft, spacecraft and future exploration..
Data Scientist
Uses data to solve problems and improve real-world decisions.
Skills Framework
CATAPULT skills students build
The CATAPULT Skills Framework™ underpins every session of this programme. Students particularly develop:
Problem Solving
Ambition
Communication
Adaptability
Gallery
The Inventor's Laboratory in action
Choose Your Implementation Pathway
Three ways to deliver this programme
Choose the pathway that best fits your school's time, timetable and level of support.
Use Lite to introduce pupils to the programme, its real-world role and related careers.
Career Exposure
Promotional
Promotional poster / flyer
View PDF
A short club pathway. Pupils work through the programme's Standard sessions and module activities.
Programme resources
Staff Pilot Overview
View PDFEvaluation Booklet
View PDFMastery Rubric
View PDFCertificate Template
View TemplateSessions
Modules
Module A worksheet
View PDF
A longer timetabled pathway with more time for practical work and the programme's final output.
Programme resources
Staff Pilot Overview
View PDFEvaluation Booklet
View PDFMastery Rubric
View PDFCertificate Template
View TemplateSessions
Modules
Module A worksheet
View PDF
Evaluation
How this programme is evaluated
The National Schools Innovation Blueprint evaluates participation, engagement, development, programme outputs and implementation using the same booklet across every stndard and embedded programmes. They are recorded once using the shared Enrichment Activity evaluation form.
Case Study
Future case studies
A case study for this programme will be published here as more schools pilot it. Read our first National Schools Innovation Blueprint case study from Ashlawn School in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
No. Activities are designed for mixed abilities.
Yes. Students can use everyday classroom materials.
Yes. It complements science, design and technology and computing.
Related Initiatives
Explore related programmes
Human Behaviour Crash Course
Students investigate why people think, behave and make decisions. They apply psychology to everyday…
Build Your Business Workshop
Students work together to create a business idea, design a product or service, understand money, and present…
Ready to deliver The Inventor's Laboratory?
Contact the National Schools Innovation Blueprint to get started.