STEM Community | Careers & Inspiration
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025 – Dare to Discover
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is a highlight of the STEM calendar. This year’s theme Dare to Discover invites students to explore, experiment and build resilience by learning through trial and improvement. I sat down with Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, to unpack what the theme means in practice and how you can bring it to life in your classrooms.
Watch the conversation to hear practical ways to build curiosity, creativity and resilience in STEM.
Key themes from the conversation
- Reframing failure: Setbacks are not disasters. They are data. Encourage students to ask why something did not work, try a tweak and test again. This builds confidence and keeps discovery moving.
- Clear careers links: EngineeringUK resources map to Gatsby Benchmark 4 (linking curriculum to careers) and Benchmark 5 (encounters with employers). They also connect to Skills Builder to develop teamwork, communication and problem solving.
- Flexible for real classrooms: Short films, assemblies and lesson plans fit science, design and technology, PSHE and engineering. Minimal prep. Easy to run as a sequence or as quick discussion starters.
- Hopeful futures: Link discovery to real world challenges such as climate change and AI. Show how engineering offers practical solutions and meaningful careers that are in demand.
- Diversity and inclusion: Progress is being made but there is more to do. Spotlight creativity, purpose and problem solving. Use role models and multiple routes in, including apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications.
How to use the resources this week
- Start with a short film. Ask students what surprised them and which problems they would like to solve. Capture ideas on the board and return to them in later lessons.
- Run a quick design tweak challenge. Give a simple object or process. Ask students to find one improvement and test it. Emphasise iteration and evidence.
- Link to careers. Show the roles behind the problem and name the skills in play. Note which Gatsby and Skills Builder elements you have covered.
- Bring in a voice from industry. Invite a local employer or an ambassador to answer student questions and connect classroom ideas to real projects.
Share what your students create using #TEWeek25. We will highlight examples in the STEM Community.
Join the discussion
How will you help your students Dare to Discover this week? Tell us which film, activity or employer encounter you tried and what your students discovered.
- What reframing scripts help your learners respond positively when something does not work the first time
- Which activity best linked curriculum content to a real career pathway
- What quick wins did you find for including employers or ambassadors