Students tackle global challenges with creativity, confidence and collaboration
The Whitehaven Academy hosted the 2026 CET Innovate Final on Thursday 2 July, bringing together some of the most creative and forward-thinking students from across Cumbria Education Trust (CET) for a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving.
The annual CET Innovate Competition challenges students to develop innovative ideas and products designed to address current national and global issues. Throughout the year, students across CET schools have worked collaboratively to identify problems, develop solutions and present their concepts through school-based competitions, with winning teams progressing to the trust-wide final.
The culmination of months of hard work, the final saw representatives from schools across the trust pitch their projects to an expert judging panel. Teams arrived exceptionally well prepared, showcasing professional display boards, prototypes, carefully rehearsed presentations and even branded merchandise to support their ideas.
The standard of competition was exceptionally high, with students demonstrating impressive creativity, critical thinking and communication skills. The quality of work on display and the confidence shown by every participant was truly outstanding, making the judging process an incredibly challenging task.
Reflecting on the success of the event, Nic Tweddle, CET Student Events Lead, praised the commitment and professionalism demonstrated by all of the finalists:
“The CET Innovate Final is always one of the highlights of the year, and this year’s competition was no exception. The quality of the ideas, research and presentations on show was outstanding, and our students should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. Every team delivered their pitch with confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism, demonstrating not only their innovative thinking but also their ability to work collaboratively to address real-world challenges. What impressed me most was the way students supported and encouraged one another throughout the day. Every participant was a fantastic ambassador for their school and a wonderful example of the talent, creativity and character we have across Cumbria Education Trust. What particularly stood out throughout the day was the strong sense of support between competitors. Students enthusiastically engaged with each other’s projects and celebrated one another’s achievements, truly reflecting CET’s collaborative culture and its values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.”
The final decisions were made by a distinguished judging panel comprising George Beveridge, Chair of the CET Trust Board; Nick Polmear, CET Chair of Members; Matt Butler, Director of Primary and Professional Development; and Des Bird, Director of Secondary.
2026 CET Innovate Final Results
Primary Category
🏆 Winner: Brain Lift Innovations – Petteril Bank School
🥈 Second Place: The Best Buddies – Hensingham Primary School
🥉 Third Place: Safe Net Innovators – Longtown Primary School
Secondary Category
🏆 Winner: Sure Solve – William Howard School
🥈 Second Place: Plastic to Plants – Queen Katherine School
🥉 Third Place: The Food Waste Fixers – Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
Congratulations go to all finalists, whose innovative ideas and outstanding presentations impressed both judges and audience members alike. Every student represented their school with pride and professionalism and should be immensely proud of their achievements.
Special recognition must also go to Stramongate Primary School and Castle Park School, who participated in the competition for the first time this year and made an excellent impression with their debut entries.
The success of CET Innovate 2026 reflects the dedication of students, staff and school communities across the trust. From class-based activities and school finals to the trust-wide showcase event, countless individuals have contributed to creating an inspiring opportunity for young people to develop skills in innovation, teamwork, communication and leadership.
Cumbria Education Trust would like to congratulate all participants and offer sincere thanks to the staff, judges and school communities who helped make this year’s competition such a success. The trust is already looking forward to seeing the next generation of innovative ideas and solutions in the 2027 CET Innovate Competition.
