Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew announces winners of annual Endeavour competitions

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is delighted to announce the winning entries to its annual Endeavour competitions for 2024/25. Ranging from early years to Key Stage 5, the winners were drawn from schools across the UK, with each challenge guiding pupils through an in-depth project, from designing a pack for a scientific expedition to investigating gene sequencing technology. These competitions provide a unique opportunity for schools to connect with Kew’s cutting-edge scientific research, showcasing how work happening at Kew can be transformed into interactive learning experiences for pupils. 

The winning schools are:

• Early Years Foundation Stage- Local Explorers: Ysgol Santes Tudful Gurnos, Wales
• Key Stage 1- Pack Your Bags: Rokesly Infants and Nursery School, Haringey, London
• Key Stage 2- Pack Your Bags: Hopelands School, Gloucester
• Key Stage 3- Pack Your Bags: Loreto College, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
• Key Stage 4- Tree of Life: Copthall School, Barnet, London
• Key Stage 5- Tree of Life: Sutton Grammar School, Surrey

Each winner receives £1,000 to spend on school science, a certificate, letter of achievement and a personalised video message from a Kew staff member.

Winners of the EYFS category, Ysgol Santes Tudful Gurnos school, reflect: “We are absolutely delighted to hear of our success in this competition! As a newly established primary school, starting from the bottom up, what better way than winning such a prestigious competition as this to really put ourselves on the map.  We are located in one of the poorest, crime-rich towns in Wales, in the most socially deprived housing estates in the whole country.  We offer our pupils every possible opportunity to grow up to be responsible, enterprising and ethical citizens in their communities.”

Loreto College, KS3 winners, add: “This challenge was an extraordinary learning experience for our pupils. They gained invaluable insights into the meticulous planning efforts needed to effectively carry out a vital role in the field. It was genuinely inspiring for everyone involved to discover the diverse and exciting career possibilities this area offers. We plan to use the funds to develop a mindfulness space and enhance our horticulture education for pupils- our main objective is to increase biodiversity throughout all seasons, providing rich learning experiences that contribute positively to both our students' well-being and the environment."

More information on the winners can be found at kew.org.

Challenges launched for new academic year

The 2025/26 competitions are now running. Open to all key stages, there are six £1,000 prizes available, which could be spent in a range of ways, including new science equipment, a school trip to a botanic garden or wildlife centre or creating a wildlife garden at school. Challenges range from cultivating a microhabitat and keeping a nature diary to designing a uniform for Kew staff using the recently launched Grow your Futureplatform for inspiration. For older learners, the Key Stage 4 and 5 challenge is to produce a podcast or video exploring the importance of green careers.  The EYFS and Key stage 4 challenges have been shortlisted for the 2025 Teach Awards, with winners to be announced in November.

Helen Gill, Head of Schools and Teacher Training at RBG Kew says: “We are absolutely thrilled by the achievements of this year’s Endeavour competition winners. Their creativity, scientific curiosity and commitment to learning have shone through in every entry. From designing expedition packs and exploring evolutionary trees, to observing local habitats and conducting real experiments — each project demonstrates what’s possible when young people are inspired to connect with the natural world. We look forward to seeing even more imaginative, bold and thoughtful entries as young people embark on the challenges of the new competitions for the year ahead- good luck to all the entrants!”

The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew would like to thank Michael George for generously funding the Endeavour competition prize money.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships, and beloved Gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi –Kew is using its trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity, Kew relies on the critical support of its visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.

--ENDS--