Posted on / in 'If you were an engineer' Competition

The University Dundee hosts for the Scotland East Central awards!

These pupils had taken part in a UK-wide competition, run by educational not-for-profit Primary Engineer, where they answered the question “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”. Pupils aged 3-19 are tasked with interviewing an engineer before being asked to identify a problem in the world around them and drawing and annotating a solution and adding a letter explaining why an engineer should choose to build it!

All entries are read and graded by engineering professionals, with every single pupil who takes part receiving a named and graded certificate. They are graded based on the quality of the idea and the problem, large or small, that it is solving. Shortlisted entries are then sent to exclusive judging days where the invited judges, formed from leading industry and engineering professionals, select the designs to be celebrated at 25 regional Award Ceremonies.

The competition culminated on 20th May 2026 at The University Dundee in an exciting regional public exhibition and award ceremony, where teachers, pupils, their families and industry professionals were invited to celebrate local ingenuity and create lasting memories. The shortlisted designs were displayed, and the winners and those who were highly commended were invited on stage to receive their awards, with a surprise award for the judge’s favourite at the end.

The highly commended and winning pupils were awarded trophies and framed certificates of their ideas, with 36 pupils from schools across our ‘Scotland East Central’ region being celebrated.

Primary 1

  • Highly Commended – Reeva H, Tulliallan Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Aoife C, Kinglassie Primary School
  • Winner – Kenna Stirling, Kinglassie Primary School
  • Winner – Paige A, Kinglassie Primary School

Primary 2

  • Highly Commended – Evie S, Tulliallan Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Jack M, Coaltown of Balgonie Primary School
  • Winner – Agatha S, Pitlessie Primary School
  • Winner – Maria M, St Dominic’s

Primary 3

  • Highly Commended – Niamh F, Stenhousemuir Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Evelyn S, Pitlessie Primary School
  • Winner – Sophie C, Muirfield Primary School
  • Winner – Noah A, Stenhousemuir Primary School

Primary 4

  • Highly Commended – Delphine M, Pitlessie Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Kerr S, Lawhead School Wynd
  • Winner – Tilly B, Lawhead School Wynd
  • Winner – Chloe A, Pitlessie Primary School

Primary 5

  • Highly Commended – Elise S, St Dominic’s
  • Highly Commended – Hannah, Dollar Academy
  • Winner – Thea H, St Andrew’s Primary School
  • Winner – Kobie K, Park Primary School

Primary 6

  • Highly Commended – Isla S, Bonnybridge Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Vidmantas K, Park Primary School
  • Winner – Darragh O, St Dominic’s
  • Winner – Phoenixx W, Muirfield Primary School

Primary 7

  • Highly Commended – Olesia R, Easter Carmuirs Primary School
  • Highly Commended – Olivia B, Park Primary School
  • Winner – Emma M, Park Primary School
  • Winner – Elspeth S, Pitlessie Primary School

Secondary 1

  • Winner – Euan K, The Community School of Auchterarder
  • Winner – Jessica C, The Community School of Auchterarder

Secondary 2

  • Winner – Cameron B, Arbroath High School
  • Winner – Max M, Arbroath High School

Secondary 5

  • Highly Commended – Alizhan K, Glenalmond College
  • Highly Commended – Sara P, Arbroath High School
  • Winner – Bartlomiei G, Arbroath High School
  • Winner – Samuel M, Arbroath High School

Congratulations to all the pupils, including Secondary 2 pupil, Cameron, from Arbroath High School, whose idea “The Safe Pod Multi-Unit Survival Hub” stood out for the judges and won the special ‘Judges Award’.

Thank you to our National and Regional partners for fully-funding this competition and helping us bringing engineering into classrooms in Scotland.

Relive the event highlight by viewing the full photo album on Facebook: Primary Engineer | Facebook

The 2026/27 Competition is Officially OPEN so get involved to experience the fun! Register for full competition access and resources here: https://leadersaward.com/resource-area-registration/

Primary Engineer Public Exhibitions and Award Ceremonies continue all over the UK through to July, with thousands of pupils engineering ideas being displayed for all to see. Find out more: https://leadersaward.com/exhibitions-and-events/