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Why take part in the National MicroBotics competition?

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Exceptional Value & Lasting Impact

MicroBotics is a national, termly robotics challenge where students design, build, and code robots, solve real-world problems, and develop teamwork, creativity, and STEM skills — all hands-on and all nationwide.

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Curriculum Alignment & Outstanding Value for Money

Challenges align with academic terms, can be delivered through lessons or clubs, require no travel, and are open to schools nationwide through simple video submissions.

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Measurable Skill Progression & Maximum Educational Return

Each term introduces a new mission, encouraging students to apply computational thinking, design and improve physical systems, communicate their ideas clearly, and learn from feedback over time.

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Accessibility & Inclusive Participation Nationwide

Funded places for eligible state schools help remove financial barriers, ensuring more pupils can take part and benefit from high-quality, hands-on STEM learning.

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Termly Competitions

Kicks off at the start of each term from Autumn 2026
Themes rotate across the year, repeating annually with new missions and clear, progressive skill development

Rescue Mission

Autumn Term
The Rescue Mission challenge tasks teams with programming a robot to navigate hazards, avoid obstacles and deliver a payload autonomously.

Eco-Quest

Spring Term
EcoQuest challenges teams to build a robot that detects, sorts and tracks recyclable materials using sensors and a micro:bit display.

Robo Games Arena

Summer Term
The RoboGames Arena combines fast-paced robotics challenges with a freestyle showcase of coding and engineering creativity.

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What's Included

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Compete

Termly Competition Entry

Teams of 4–6 pupils can take part in each termly competition, with schools free to enter as many teams as they wish. This flexible approach allows for broad participation across year groups or clubs—please refer to the fees section for full details. The winning school recieve the National Champion’s trophy and a class set of Micro:bits - allowing you to continue the development of STEM. Other prizes will be announced soon!
Microbit robot
Build

Hardware

MicroBotics is designed to be high-impact, low-cost and sustainable — making competitive robotics accessible to all schools. Hardware is purchased once and reused across all three termly competitions. All required sensors and motors are included, leaving teams just the fun job of deciding what the robot chassis will look like!
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Teach

Teacher Materials

Resources and a pupil guide are provided to support easy implementation within lessons, clubs or enrichment, with expert support available throughout each term.
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MicroBotics Impact

Teamwork & Communication

  • Learning how to work like engineers
  • Improved collaboration skills
  • Students take on rotating roles: builder, coder, tester, presenter
  • Clear growth in peer support, discussion and reflection
  • Video submissions strengthen communication without live-pressure competition

Learning Over Time

  • Impact that builds across the year
  • Three challenges per year aligned to school terms
  • Consistent judging rubrics enable progress tracking
  • Better retention of coding skills
  • More ambitious solutions by the Summer term
  • Feedback drives real improvement, not just scores

Teacher & School Impact

  • Designed to fit well into the academic year
  • Flexible delivery through lessons, clubs or enrichment
  • No travel, minimal setup and reusable hardware
  • High impact with low operational burden

Value for Money

  • Sustainable STEM at scale
  • Hardware purchased once and reused all year
  • Multiple competition cycles per academic year
  • Reduced costs for schools
  • Better value than one-off national finals

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Frequently Asked Questions

Littlegarth MicroBotics is a national robotics and coding competition launching in Autumn 2026, where students take part in exciting, hands-on challenges using Micro:bits and robotics kits.

The competition is open to primary and secondary schools across the UK. We are particularly focused on ensuring state schools and all pupils - regardless of background - can take part.

Not at all. The competition is designed to be accessible for beginners, with guidance and resources provided so that any school or student can get started and succeed.

Students will work in teams to design, build, and program robots to complete three exciting challenges:
  • Rescue Mission (Autumn): solving disaster-response scenarios
  • EcoQuest (Spring): tackling environmental challenges
  • Robo Games Arena (Summer): a fun, competitive final

Students will develop important life and career skills, including:
  • Coding and digital skills
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Teamwork and communication
  • Creativity and confidence

The competition runs across the school year, but it is designed to be flexible. Schools can integrate it into lessons, clubs, or enrichment time.

Yes. There will be video entries submitted each Term where students can showcase their work, celebrate achievements, with points added to the league table. The National Champion will be announced at the end of the Summer Term.

This competition helps children:
  • Build confidence with technology
  • Develop real-world problem-solving skills
  • Discover interests in STEM and future careers
  • Work collaboratively and learn through doing

No. The competition is designed for all students, not just those already interested in STEM. It encourages creativity, teamwork, and curiosity in a fun and engaging way.

Schools will be able to register ahead of the Autumn 2026 launch, with further details shared closer to the start of the programme.

Yes. All activities are designed to be age-appropriate, safe, and educational, with clear guidance for teachers and supervision within school settings.
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