Primary and early years
Explore CREST primary resources, the latest news and inspiring case studies from CREST Awards. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or want to stay informed, this section showcases things you need to know for running CREST with your pupils across the UK and beyond.
CREST Awards for primary & early years
Typical ages 3-7
6 x 1 hour challenges
£1 UK; £5 International
Star Award
Perfect for early years or younger primary children who are beginning their STEM journey. Our short, hands-on Star activities are designed to spark curiosity and encourage all children to explore the world around them in a fun and engaging way.
Explore Star Award
Typical ages 7-11
6 x 1 hour challenges
£1 UK; £5 International
SuperStar Award
Most suitable for upper primary pupils aged 7-11 who are looking for a challenge.
Explore SuperStar Award
Typical ages 10-14
Typically 5 hrs
£3 UK; £7.50 International
Discovery Award
A one-day STEM project perfect for encouraging your older primary pupils to explore pupil-led work. Develop your pupils' communication, problem solving and teamwork skills.
Explore Discovery Award
How to run a CREST Award for primary & early years
Primary CREST Awards, including Star and SuperStar, are easy and affordable for children typically aged 3-11. Children earn an Award by completing at least six challenges from our resource library or their own choice. We provide tips, guidance, and case studies to help you conduct these activities.
Plan
Browse our free activities in the Resource Library and pick the ones you want to do with your pupils.
You can also choose your own activities. Pre-order Star, SuperStar, or Discovery certificates to have them ready for your CREST event!
Explore
Select and run at least six CREST activities for Star and SuperStar, and one challenge for Discovery.
This is the fun part! Children take on the role of investigators, while you use the Organiser's Card for the activity. You can also run your chosen challenges with the pupils.
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Apply
Create a free account on our application platform to order your certificates.
Complete the application, pay for the certificates and they will be delivered to your delivery address.
Achieve!
Celebrate pupils' incredible achievement as they earn their CREST Awards!
Share your experience with us - email us, tell us in the survey, or tag us in your posts. Let's spread the joy and inspire others with the children's success!
Why choose CREST for your pupils?
Recognised achievement
Children earn a CREST certificate for completing at least six activities, giving them a real sense of pride and accomplishment - perfect for hanging on their wall at home or school, building their confidence early on.
Hands-on, fun learning
CREST activities are practical and engaging, helping children explore STEM through exciting, real-world challenges.
Supports key skills
Activities develop critical thinking, teamwork, and communication - skills that benefit children across all subjects.
Flexible and inclusive
Suitable for all abilities and settings, CREST can be easily adapted to fit classroom lessons, clubs, or even home learning.
Recognised achievement
Children earn a CREST certificate for completing at least six activities, giving them a real sense of pride and accomplishment - perfect for hanging on their wall at home or school, building their confidence early on.
Hands-on, fun learning
CREST activities are practical and engaging, helping children explore STEM through exciting, real-world challenges.
Supports key skills
Activities develop critical thinking, teamwork, and communication - skills that benefit children across all subjects.
Flexible and inclusive
Suitable for all abilities and settings, CREST can be easily adapted to fit classroom lessons, clubs, or even home learning.
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Looking for inspiration for
Find what you need
Whether you're searching for detailed primary resources, or information on how to run CREST Star or SuperStar challenges, start exploring now. Discover the tools and insights that will help you achieve your goals.
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Using CREST Awards to support the primary curriculum
Use our booklet to find a list of relevant activities mapped against some of the themes and content topics found in the primary curricula for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. All activities mentioned in the booklet are available on the CREST Resource Library and completely free to download!
Low-resource or low equipment-sharing resources
Looking for activities to run outside of a lab or at home? We have a selection of CREST project ideas that require minimal equipment, can be conducted outside of a lab, and use items that don't need much sharing among learners.
Our curated home learning packs are designed to be resource-light, making them perfect for use at home!
What do primary teachers say about CREST?
At CREST, our greatest pride comes from the voices of those who have experienced the journey first hand. Whether it’s a teacher guiding their students through an inspiring project or a student discovering their passion for STEM, the impact of CREST Awards is best told through the stories of those who’ve lived it.
"I thought [CREST] would be great for the children and young people at Hilltop, as they would firstly hopefully have lots of fun engaging in a range of fun engaging science sessions, and secondly have a recognised Award for their effort and engagement."
"I like that the lessons for Star/SuperStar are stand alone lessons and teachers can choose appropriate challenges for their students."
We are here to help
Find answers to your questions quickly and easily with our Help Centre Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Whether you're just getting started with CREST Awards or looking for specific details on projects, resources, or submission guidelines, our comprehensive FAQ has you covered.
