Hands On: Embedding twenty-first-century robotics across UK education

AI is dominating the conversation about technology in education, and in doing so it is reshaping how we think about computing in schools, colleges and universities. At the same time there is growing concern about technology in childhood, from screen use and social media to smartphones in schools. We think robotics offers a way to draw attention back towards the creative, hands-on and problem-solving side of technology, and towards a growth market that risks being overshadowed by a singular focus on AI. 

Run jointly by techUK’s Education and EdTech programme and its Robotics programme, this event follows robotics across the full learning journey, from the primary classroom to the engineering lab. It brings together the companies working in robotics and robotics education with schools, colleges, universities and exam boards, to look at the opportunity robotics presents and what needs to change for education to make the most of it. 

Why now 

Robotics has no pathway of its own in UK education. What exists instead is a collection of modules and specialisms borrowed from subjects built around something else, and the hardware, virtualised environments, specialist edtech and industry access that robotics depends on are as undefined as the curriculum itself. Recent analysis of UK robotics degrees suggests that even where dedicated courses exist, what they teach often trails behind what employers are recruiting for. A revised national curriculum, reworked T Levels and a wholly new V Level are now arriving together, which gives educators and industry a timely opportunity to consider where robotics should sit across each stage of education. 

Who should attend 

Primary and secondary teachers and curriculum leaders, college and technical college leaders, university academics in robotics, engineering and AI, exam boards and curriculum bodies, robotics and edtech suppliers, employers, and policy colleagues with an interest in skills and the talent pipeline. 

What we hope to cover 

• Government’s view of the opportunity in robotics and what it will take to build the talent pipeline behind it. 

• How companies working in robotics and robotics education see the opportunity, both as employers looking for future talent and as specialists supporting teaching and learning. 

• What is working in robotics education across schools, colleges and universities, and what is not. 

• What needs to change to secure robotics education in practice, from investment and access to hardware through to curriculum design. 

Get involved If you work in robotics or robotics education and would like to contribute to this or future events, please get in touch with Austin Earl or Luke Lightowler. Contact details are below. 

Please note: by registering for this event, you are agreeing for techUK to share your details with London South Bank Technical College.