TEXPO Schools' Competition: Fri 26 June 2026, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford
We are pleased to advise the date for the 2026 CSES Schools' Technology Exhibition (TEXPO).
The dates will be as follows:
- The TEXPO will take place on Friday 26 June 2026 (confirmed).
- The awards evening will take place on the evening of Thursday 9 July 2026 (TBC).
Please note that this is not the same as the provisional date (19 June) given in the call for expressions of interest. This is due to venue availability and we apologise for any difficulty this may cause.
Find out more about the competition here.
We will provide full details and open for registration in the new year.
FREE club starting 24 January 2026 for Year 10 students – apply now
We are pleased to offer Year 10 students the opportunity to take part in the 2026 National Saturday Club which CSES will host, once again, at ARU in Chelmsford. As with everything we do at CSES, the Saturday Club is completely free of charge!
The club will provide an opportunity for year 10 students to experience a range of different Science and Engineering topics using the state-of-the-art Super Lab and workshop facilities at ARU's Chelmsford Campus. Each session will explore the science and engineering behind real life activities and problems that can affect our daily lives. In addition to laboratory and workshop sessions, there will also be visits to science and technology related organisations. The NSC also organise for us a masterclass with leading industry professionals and a Summer Show at Somerset House in July.
Report from the Family Weekend
The Chelmsford Science Festival Family Weekend was once again a great success seeing several thousand members of the public coming to the CSES activity area. Many favourite demonstrations from previous years were present including Magnetics, 3D Printing, Centre of Gravity and Force and Moment. The ever-popular Egg Drop also saw a return with over 220 participants over the two days, including some coming back to try and beat last year’s attempts! We had some very innovative designs and some very good results! For those interested, the winning score was 1.1g (the lowest shock registered by our "digital egg") achieved by Violet, on the Sunday.
Students uncover the world of game design
In October 2025, we hosted 110 students from seven schools at an event, designed with young people for young people, to showcase the career opportunities available within the game design industry.
Organised by CSES in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University and Culture Chelmsford (including Spark! Youth Forum), and supported by Essex County Council, Game On! was a half-day industry spotlight event held as part of the Chelmsford Science Festival.
In workshops, presented by industry professionals and academics expert in the field, students created an audio clip to accompany an action scene, thought about the development of games from the very first idea through to marketing the finished product, had a go at creating their own simple games, heard about a day in the life of a professional games developer and learned about the educational routes and skill-sets needed for success in the field.
Creativity, Teamwork & Purpose at ARU’s Hack-a-Ton 25
In November 2025, Anglia Ruskin University’s Chelmsford campus was filled with curiosity and energy as the ARU STEM Society hosted Hack‑a‑ton 25. This two-day event brought together students from various backgrounds—including engineering, business, health, and law—to tackle real-world challenges through creativity, collaboration, and conversation.
🚀 What Happened
- Two full days of innovation
Participants were split into teams and given a challenge when the event began. Over the weekend, they used workshops, breakout rooms, and computer labs to develop ideas and in some cases working prototypes. - “Debate Your Hack”
A highlight was the interactive session where teams defended their ideas in front of an expert panel, sharpening both their problem-solving and public-speaking skills. - Support from start to finish
Expert mentors from ARU and companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce (Alten), and the Chelmsford Science & Engineering Society guided students throughout.
We can now reveal the completed season of our social events and FREE evening lectures.
We hope that you enjoyed the first two excellent talks on Spacecraft Propulsion and Folding Electric Bikes, our inaugural visit to Taste of Italy and the 2025 Chelmsford Science Festival. We are sure that the remaining programme will be just as informative and exciting.
CSES attends annual Braintree Careers Fair
On Wednesday 24 September 2025, Roger Pittock and Ed Bye spent the day at Chelmsford City Racecourse, flying the CSES banner at the annual Braintree Careers Fair.
Over 1,500 year 11 (aged 15 – 16) students from 8 schools attended, two schools at a time to a strict timetable. The large marquee was divided into two sections, each serving in excess of 50 manned stands from a wide range of industries and further education establishments. School groups of around 190 students spent 30 minutes in each section.
CSES launches new Primary Resource Kits scheme
We have been working with a small number of primary schools to trial the introduction of a new feature of the CSES STEM Club Bursary. This is the Primary Resource Kits scheme, providing free resource kits to support teaching of science at KS1 and KS2. We are aware of the challenges that teachers can face in terms of obtaining resources (or resources that work properly!) when planning and delivering engaging science lessons. It is our aim to support teachers and, in turn, help children explore science and technology.
Priory Primary School in Bicknacre have been among the first to make use of this scheme, taking delivery of a seed kit, wild west desert garden, grow-your-own herbs kit and a stick-on fabric plant diagram. Together, these make up the 'Plants' subject resource pack (others available include 'Electricity', 'Space', 'Rocks' and 'Light').
CSES supporting STEM in the community
Funds from the CSES STEM Club Bursary have been used to purchase Lego Spike Essential kits for Cherry Tree Primary School in Basildon, enabling them to run a club for pupils in years 1-6 with a more age-appropriate set of equipment.
Read more: STEM Club Bursary 2025: Cherry Tree Primary School
CSES@ARU Science and Engineering Saturday Club 2025
A few words from David, who runs our Saturday Club...
Hello, I am Professor David Humber from Anglia Ruskin University and Vice President of CSES, who runs this club at ARU, Chelmsford.
This year, we explored over a dozen different hands-on topics from infection and microbiology, through CAD design and 3D printing, and even pond dipping, chocolate welding and horology! We also took visits to Essex Wildlife, the Power Museum and our Masterclass at UCL East.
Each year our students seem to get better and the quality of work they submitted for our Agar Art Competition and the posters they produced for the cutting-edge science poster challenge were really impressive.
Finally, thanks to ARU for supporting our club and to the tutors and student ambassadors who helped run the sessions. Also, a big thank-you to our enthusiastic students and their parents and carers who supported and encouraged them.
Read more: CSES Imagine! Saturday Club completes its third year
- Game On! – Uncover the world of game design – A Chelmsford Science Festival industry spotlight event for students
- 2025 TEXPO results
- CSES helps to secure major investment for Chelmsford Science Festival
- CSES Wins SheCanCode STEM Educator Award
- Felsted Pupils and Essex REMAP at Billericay Soapbox Derby 2025
- Volunteer Opportunity: STEM Day Support Needed
- CSES TEXPO 2025 is open!
- A Festive STEM Adventure: The CSES/ARU Christmas Lecture 2024
- Big Bang Competition 2025
- A new look for the website!