WHAT IS NORTH STAR SCIENCE SCHOOL?
North Star 2026 Inspiring the Next Generation of STEAM Innovators Bringing together young people, educators, scientists and businesses to explore the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) across the South Yorkshire region. On Wednesday 18 November 2026, the seventh annual North Star Science School will take place at Gulliver’s Valley Resort, Rotherham.
North Star Science School is an exciting one-day live event designed especially for Year 8 and 9 students. Its mission is to spark curiosity, creativity and a love of discovery by blending science with imagination and play. The event aims to open young minds to the incredible breadth of careers within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM).
North Star 2026 includes our usual fantastic array of inspiring and motivational speakers, as well as a mix of hands-on interactive business-led and co-created workshops. But this year, we’re delighted to announce two exciting new additions to the main event!
The first is North Star Futures, an employability and innovation fair offering a chance for students to chat to local employers and find out more about career opportunities in STEAM industries.
Our second new addition is North Star Primary, which you can find up the drive in the Skills Street building. As the name suggests, this event is aimed at primary-aged students, and offers an opportunity for them to experience hands-on activites and fun sessions to encourage them in their exploration of future careers from an early age.
North Star Secondary – Gulliver’s Valley Resort, Rotherham
North Star Primary – Skills Street at Gulliver’s Valley Resort
Both events will take place on Wednesday 18 November 2026.A Little Background
North Star Science School was originally created as a part of Professor Brian Cox CBE and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE’s Science Summer School initiative, North Star was created to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators across South Yorkshire.
Bringing young people, educators, scientists and businesses together to explore the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) in the South Yorkshire Region. On 18th November 2026, the seventh annual North Star Science School will take place at Gulliver’s Valley Resort in Rotherham. Find out more about this fantastic adventure-filled day, and learn how you can be a part of it!
Secondary Students
Primary Students
Schools
Businesses
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North Star Secondary
North Star Science School is our usual secondary event, aimed at year 8 & 9 students. This year we have introduced different packages for schools and families to book.
Package 1: FREE
Package 2: £2.50 per student
Package 3: £5 per student
By introducing packages to the event, this has allowed us to introduce the new addition of North Star Futures.
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North Star Primary
Primary School Package FREE Primary Package 10:00am – 2:00pm Hosted at Skills Street, Gulliver’s Valley Resort Package includes: STEAM-based interactive activities 4 interactive workshops with the Skills Street Edutainers Time for lunch
North Star Science School in South Yorkshire is known for our co-created workshops, where local businesses team up with local schools to deliver inspiring workshops to our visitors. Workshops from the North Star 2025 event...
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Amazelab in collaboration with Trinity Academy St Edwards, Barnsley Academy & Kirk BalkGet ready to unleash your creativity and make your voice heard! Amazelab, Great Childhoods Ambition, and Barnsley Civic are teaming up with Pitstop Productions to bring you exciting, hands-on workshops designed with Barnsley secondary school students, for secondary students. Whether you're into tech, storytelling, design, or performance, these workshops are your chance to explore new skills, work with industry pros, and help shape something amazing for your community. From creating emotions through sound to discovering theatre lighting and generating your own sounds in a Foley Station there is something for everyone. Don’t miss out—this is your moment to be part of something big!CBE+ in collaboration with Netherthorpe SchoolBuild and Race Your Own CarJoin our hands-on workshop where you’ll design and build your very own car using a variety of equipment and materials. Once your car is ready, put it to the test in a series of exciting challenges: a speed race to see which car is the fastest, a target race to test your accuracy, a distance race to see how far your car can travel, and a final race where you’ll race against your friends to be the first across the finish line!Esh Construction in collaboration with Notre Dame High SchoolIn this fast-paced, hands-on challenge, students step into the role of a sustainable construction team. Working in small groups, they’ll design and plan an environmentally friendly building — balancing real-world factors such as cost, materials, and energy effciency. Using scientific thinking and creative problem-solving, teams will compete to develop the most innovative and sustainable design. This interactive session highlights how science is applied in modern construction, encourages teamwork and communication, and inspires students to think about careers that contribute to a greener future.HLM Architects & Gleadless Valley in collaboration with Sheffield Springs AcademyHave you ever wondered what an architect does and how the plans for regeneration of an area come together? Well in this workshop you will find out what’s involved in a real live regeneration programme on our doorstep in Gleadless Valley, where the aim is to enhance housing, green spaces, facilities and employment opportunities for residents, tenants and businesses. Learn what’s involved and put your self in the designers and architects shoes at HLM. Get creative and who knows some of your ideas may even be adopted into the scheme!Forged Solutions Group in collaboration with Oasis Academy Don ValleyOasis Don Valley Academy and Forged Solutions present a workshop where you will build a balloon-powered car to explore the world of motion and demonstrate the practical application of Newton’s laws of motion.Land in collaboration with Sheffield Girls' High SchoolIn this hands-on workshop, students will explore how heat interacts with di erent materials using chocolate and thermal imaging technology. By observing how infrared radiation is absorbed and reflected, they’ll uncover why some materials heat up faster than others. With colourful visuals and tasty experiments, this session blends curiosity, creativity, and real-world science in a way that’s both educational and delicious!UK Atomic Energy Authority in collaboration with Sheffield Park AcademyJoin the UK Atomic Energy Authority and work in teams to build a Fusion Energy Campus which produces sustainable, carbon free energy! Can you build a Fusion power plant while managing the environment on the site, the staff wellbeing and the novel technology on the site, all while staying on budget?Vulcan, CBM Logix, Fastline Services & Agemaspark in collaboration with Doncaster UTCYear 10 Doncaster UTC Students will be showcasing innovation and engineering through three interactive STEM activities. Working with our partners CBM-LOGIX, they will be using a robotic arm to demonstrate precision control by lifting a model of XH558, symbolising the convergence of past aviation technology and modern robotics. With our partners from Fastline Services, the students will also construct clear box cross-sectional runway samples to illustrate the layered engineering and materials supporting aircraft operations. Finally, alongside our partner Agemaspark, a working model of the Vulcan nose wheel undercarriage will be displayed, using hydraulics to show how pressure and fluid movement replicate real aircraft landing gear systems, bridging classroom science with authentic aerospace engineering principles.
North Star Science School has multiple amazing workshops delivered by local businesses. Workshops from the North Star 2025 event...
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ArmyStudents will design and build their own air-powered car — testing their creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills to see whose design performs best! Explore cutting-edge drone technology with interactive drone simulators (on three laptops), try their hand at 3D printing replacement parts, and see a military-spec drone up close — the same type used by operational Army units.AMRCAn exciting opportunity to experience the work of an Engineer and see Additive Manufacturing in action. Using your creativity to design and 3d print a shape using a template or idea of your own.Cyber SecurityThose with a real interest in how tech works could have a bright future ahead. Skills in coding, gaming, cyber security or anything digital-related, are in high demand. Visit our workshop to learn about cyber security and take on our Kahoot quiz. Top scorers will enter the gaming area for a game of FIFA—can you take on the challenge?!HarworthIn this exciting workshop, children get the chance to see what Harworth does and become designers as they create their very own country park! They’ll plan where the playground should go, decide which wildlife could live there, and imagine the pond life they might discover. Together, we’ll think about habitats for butterflies, birds, and other animals, design special paths, and explore the many wonders of nature. It’s a fun adventure full of creativity, problem-solving, and imagination —just like building a real park of their own!IprosurvGet ready to take flight! In this exciting workshop, you’ll discover how drones are used in real-life jobs and learn what it takes to become a drone pilot. After a quick presentation, you’ll take the controls in our interactive drone challenge, flying through an assault course and timed relay. Test your skills, race against friends, and see who can master the skies!NHSCan you help our staff to determine what issues are affecting our patients? Students will receive a short introduction to healthcare science careers and participate in hands-on activities from 3 specialisms in Healthcare Science: • In Audiology you will get hands on looking at causes of hearing and balance problems. • The labs are on hand to show you how to swab a simulated wound; can you make sure the right patient gets the right treatment? • If that wasn’t enough our cardiac physiologists will be here to show you how we make sure you can keep your heart healthy. The session ends with a fun game of balance for all to participate, even the teachers!STEM RacingStudents will learn about STEM Racing, then have a quick insight into brand identity. They will have an opportunity to design their own team identity in a quick task.United Cast BarStudents will be able to produce a small casting in tin by making a sand mould, pouring the tin into the mould. They will be able to take it away with then as a keepsake. We’ll be viewing microstructures of iron through a microscope or on a screen to see the make up of iron, and testing iron samples for internal defects using ultrasonic testing equipment.
At North Star Science School 2026, we have introduced the new North Star Futures, Employability & Innovation Fair. This Fair includes these exhibitors...
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CirKitsDiscover what's really inside the tech you use every day. Build a computer with CirKits ComponentBuilder kit, investigate dismantled consoles and laptops, and explore where STEM skills could take you.Cyber SecurityEPSRC SheffieldThe National Epitaxy Facility is a research laboratory which produces semiconductor materials for companies and Universities across the UK, supporting the development of technologies like lasers, LEDs and solar panels.EPSRC NewcastleWe train UK experts to electrify transport. Our goal: inspire future scientists and engineers to develop innovative, clean power solutions for all vehicles, replacing vehicles powered by dirty fossil fuels.Gulliver's ValleyReady for a challenge? Visit Gulliver’s Valley for a fun, interactive workshop packed with adventure, exciting activities and inspiration!Hydra CreativeHydra Creative are a full-service digital agency specialising in bespoke website and software development, video & animation, branding & design, and digital marketing.Johnson & JohnsonMagna Science Adventure CentreMarvel TrainingRotherham TitansSee It Be ItCome and visit the See It Be It exhibition stand to test your skills with Career Pong, explore exciting career pathways, and discover what the world of work has to offer through fun, interactive challenges.Sheffield Children'sSheffield Hallam UniversityTest aerodynamics with our table top wind tunnels and see engineering principles come to life, just like students do across Sheffield Hallam's engineering courses.Sheffield Metallurgical & Engineering Association (SMEA)Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association want to introduce young minds to the interesting world of material science and "spark them off". They will then do the rest themselves!ShieldeVoxSHEILDEVOX brings safety reminders to life through talking technology. Discover SafeWork Audiocom, try it yourself, and see how a simple idea can help make everyday places safer!Sheffield United Community FoundationDiscover the exciting world of Sheffield United Community Foundation! Get involved in fun activities, explore sport and Esports, try new skills and discover how football can open doors to amazing STEM opportunities.Skills StreetThe Hawley CollectionThe Ken Hawley Collection Trust is the UK's premier collection of industrial tools. With ties across the Sheffield's many trades and industries, it collects and conserves Sheffield's industrial heritage.Visitor Bookings
North Star Science School is an amazing one-day live event for school children in years 8 and 9. The vision is to combine science with curiosity and play to stimulate and inspire the next generation to consider the fascinating range of careers in STEAM subjects. We do this by showcasing the cutting edge of science and engineering and promoting innovation and opportunity in the South Yorkshire Region.
For 2026 North Star Science School is expanding! Primary students in Year 5 and Year 6 now have the opportunity to attend our North Star Primary event.
Book TicketsPresenters Find Out MorePresenters joining us in 2026:
Sponsors, Supporters & Partners 2026Latest Posts-->Testimonials
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