Each year, over 30,000 CREST Awards are undertaken by 5-to-19-year-olds, giving them opportunities to explore real-world science, technology, engineering and maths projects in an exciting way.

CREST is a UK award scheme that recognises success, and enables students to build their skills and demonstrate personal achievement in project work.  It offers educators an easy-to-run framework for curriculum enhancement and is student-led, which means that young people take ownership of their projects and choose to undertake them in areas they enjoy or see as relevant.

Levels

There are six different levels of CREST Award:

  • Star (8x 1 hour activities; typically completed by 5-7 year olds)
  • SuperStar (8x 1 hour activities; typically completed by 7-11 year olds)
  • Discovery (a great first introduction to project work, these take about five hours and can be done in one day; typically undertaken by 11-to-14-year-olds)
  • Bronze (around 10 hours project work; typically undertaken by 11-to-14-year-olds)
  • Silver (around 30 hours project work; typically undertaken by 14-to-16-year-olds)
  • Gold (around 70 hours project work; typically undertaken by 16-to-19-year olds)

Find out how to introduce CREST to your school or organistion!

The British Science Association are piloting a new programme to enable and encourage students from all backgrounds to participate in the CREST Awards scheme.

We will provide support and up to £300 worth of funding for schools and organisations to run CREST Awards for the first time, as well as to enable those familiar with CREST to broaden the reach to more underrepresented students.

Find out more about the funding programme

Further information and resources

Project ideas can be created by students, teachers, organisations or local businesses – ideally the decision should be student-led, so that they choose a topic they are interested in investigating.  Have a look at our overview of CREST resources and get some tips about how to support your students.

CREST Awards can be undertaken at school or college, within an after school club or youth group setting, or by participating in one of our accredited link schemes.

Once students have completed their project work, they are individually assessed and successful students will receive a personalised certificate.

Team up with Royal Horticultural Society and European Space Agency to determine the effect of space on seed growth and earn a CREST Award! 

Benefits

In addition to giving young people the opportunity to undertake hands-on science, CREST Awards also build skills that are transferrable to other subjects, further education and future employment (time management, project management, teamwork, communication). 

You can use CREST to enhance your personal statement on your UCAS  form.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: a CREST Award can count towards your Skills section at any DofE Award level.

Children's University: a CREST Award is also validated towards the Children's University Passport to Learning

Children’s University is a charity that encourages, tracks and celebrates children’s participation in activities beyond the normal classroom curriculum. It is currently running in over 1,000 schools with more than 100,000 children aged 5-14 holding a passport. If your school is part of the Children’s University and is also running CREST, you can give children credits in their passport as you would for other school activities. CREST and Children’s University have agreed:

  • One completed resource at Star or SuperStar level = one stamp in the Children’s University passport
  • One completed project or resource at Discovery level = five stamps in the Children’s University passport
  • One completed Bronze, Silver or Gold Award  = ten stamps in the Children’s University passport

If your school is not part of the Children’s University and you’d like to find out more about registering, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/inyourarea to find your nearest centre

Artsmark: CREST projects that link art and science, along with participation in other activities through British Science Week, can support a schools planning for the Artsmark

What's after CREST?

If students have completed a CREST Award, there are other opportunities for them to develop and showcase their projects and to network with others.

Sponsors

The British Science Association is grateful to URENCO for their sponsorship of the CREST Awards.