Make It Happen

STEM Challenge
Future Skills: Solve Real Problems

A fast-paced, idea-sparking workshop where students tackle real-world problems using design thinking — from identifying issues and brainstorming solutions to building prototypes and pitching their ideas to the class.

Book This Workshop → Explore the Skills Passport
1,800+
School visits across the UK
383,000+
Students inspired
EYFS–Y6
Fully adaptable
Students solving real-world problems in a Spark2 workshop

Duration

35–40 mins

Class Size

Up to 32

Suitable For

EYFS – Year 6

What's Included

Everything
About This Workshop

Teach your students to see problems as opportunities

The Solve Real Problems workshop is built on one principle: the best way to learn problem-solving is to solve real problems. Students don't work through textbook exercises — they tackle genuine challenges relevant to their school, community, and world.

Every session is adapted to your year group. Reception and Year 1 solve simple classroom challenges through play and discussion. Year 2 and 3 use guided design thinking to improve something in their school. Year 4 and 5 take on community-level problems with rapid prototyping. Year 6 tackle complex, multi-step challenges and present their solutions in a mini pitch event.

Builds critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication — the skills employers consistently rank as most important for the future workforce.

Future Skills Passport

Part of the Skills Passport

This workshop maps directly to the Solve Real Problems skill in the Future Skills Passport programme. Book it as a standalone wow-factor day, or as part of your school's journey towards Bronze, Silver, or Gold accreditation.

Discover
EYFS & Year 1
Explore
Year 2 & 3
Apply
Year 4 & 5
Lead
Year 6
What Students Do

Six hands-on activities, adapted by age

Every activity is designed to build a different aspect of this skill. Your facilitator selects and adapts activities based on the year group.

1

Problem Spotter

Students learn to notice problems worth solving — starting in their classroom and expanding to their school, community, and beyond. They discover that the best innovations start with observation.

All year groups
2

Root Cause Detective

Teams dig beneath the surface of a problem, asking 'why?' repeatedly to find the real cause. Younger students use picture stories; older students map cause-and-effect chains.

Year 1+
3

Idea Storm

A structured brainstorming session where quantity beats quality — students generate as many ideas as possible, building on each other's thinking with 'yes, and...' before selecting the strongest concepts.

All year groups
4

Prototype Sprint

Teams build quick, rough prototypes of their solutions using craft materials, LEGO, or paper models. The focus is on testing ideas fast, not making things perfect.

Year 2+
5

Test & Improve

Students test their prototypes, gather feedback from classmates, and iterate — learning that the first version is never the final version and that failure is part of the design process.

Year 3+
6

Pitch Your Solution

Teams present their refined solutions to the class, explaining the problem, their approach, and why their solution works. Year 6 students face audience questions and defend their ideas.

Year 3+
Learning Outcomes

What students take away

Every session is designed around measurable outcomes that align with the National Curriculum and the Future Skills Passport framework.

Systematic problem analysis

Students can identify, define, and break down problems — looking beyond symptoms to find root causes.

Creative ideation

Students can generate multiple solutions to a single problem using structured brainstorming techniques.

Prototyping and testing

Students understand that solutions need testing, feedback, and iteration — and that early failure leads to better outcomes.

Presenting solutions

Students can explain their thinking, justify their approach, and respond to feedback constructively.

I've never seen Year 3 students so focused. They redesigned our school lunch queue in 45 minutes — and honestly, their solution was better than anything we'd come up with. We actually implemented it the following week.
Deputy Headteacher
Primary School, Cardiff
Plan Your Enrichment Calendar

Perfect For

Pairs perfectly with STEM events and design thinking enrichment days.

British Science Week · MarchWorld Engineering Day · MarchSTEM Enrichment Days · Year RoundDesign & Technology Week · Autumn Term
Pricing & Your Workshop Day

Mission-Led Pricing for Future Skills

Every child deserves these skills. We’ve kept Future Skills workshops accessible to every school’s PSHE budget — including Pupil Premium — so price is never the reason a class misses out.

Half Day

Up to 4 sessions
£599 Future Skills accessible price
£499
+VAT
Up to 128 students · £3.87 per student
  • 35–40 min sessions
  • Up to 32 students per session
  • EYFS – Year 6 adaptable
  • All resources & materials included
  • Dedicated facilitator
Best Value

Full Day

Up to 7 sessions
£799 Future Skills accessible price
£599
+VAT
Up to 224 students · from £2.66 per student
  • 40 min (Y3–6) · 35 min (Y1–2 & EYFS)
  • Up to 32 students per session
  • EYFS – Year 6 adaptable
  • All resources & materials included
  • Dedicated facilitator
  • Reach every class in your school
✨ After your workshop

Make it stick — add the Future Skills Passport

Workshops are how schools meet the Future Skills Passport. The Passport is the year-long journey — pupils carry their progress from one workshop to the next, and teachers get the statutory PSHE evidence built in.

  • ✓Year-long progression tracking across all 12 Future Skills strands
  • ✓Pupil badges & certificates they can show parents and take to Year 7
  • ✓Statutory PSHE auto-mapped to the DfE framework — no spreadsheets
  • ✓One-click inspection PDF — per pupil, per class, whole-school
  • ✓Members’ discount on every additional Spark2 workshop
  • ✓Free staff training session included with every subscription
Explore the Future Skills Passport →

From £249/year for a single class · whole-school options available

Sample full-day timetable

Here’s how a typical full-day workshop fits around your school day. KS2 sessions run 40 minutes; KS1 & EYFS sessions run 35 minutes. We’re flexible — we’ll work around your timetable.

9:00 – 9:40
Session 1
e.g. Year 3 · 40 min
9:45 – 10:25
Session 2
e.g. Year 4 · 40 min
10:25 – 10:40
Morning break
10:40 – 11:20
Session 3
e.g. Year 5 · 40 min
11:25 – 12:05
Session 4
e.g. Year 6 · 40 min
12:05 – 1:00
Lunch break
1:00 – 1:35
Session 5
e.g. Year 1 · 35 min
1:40 – 2:15
Session 6
e.g. Year 2 · 35 min
2:20 – 2:55
Session 7
e.g. EYFS / Reception · 35 min
Looking for more?

Explore our Future Skills Passport packages

This workshop is part of the Future Skills Passport programme. Book it as a standalone wow-factor day, or as part of your school’s journey towards Bronze, Silver, or Gold accreditation.

View FSM Packages →

Book Your Workshop Day

Fill in the form and we’ll get back to you within one working day with availability, pricing and a bespoke timetable for your school.

  • Quick response — we reply within one working day, usually much sooner
  • Bespoke timetable — we’ll build a schedule around your classes and timings
  • Curriculum-linked — every workshop maps to the National Curriculum
  • No hidden costs — clear pricing with everything included
0203 637 8224 hi@spark2.org

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