Following on from our successful Silver Award last year, we are delighted to announce that The Swan NS has received a Gold Award in this year’s Curious Minds Awards ceremony which took place on the 12th June 2026.

To earn the Gold status, schools must take their STEM education a step further than the introductory Silver tier. A school must meet the following criteria: 

• High Participation: More than half of the classes in the school must actively participate in the STEM program. 

• Hands-On Science: Evidence is required for at least one hands-on investigation in four core strands: Living Things, Energy & Forces, Materials, and Environmental Awareness. 

• Informal Learning: Students must engage in two or more outside-the-classroom activities, such as visiting Discover Centres, participating in Science Week, or hosting STEM guest speakers. 

• Technology & Engineering: Pupils must demonstrate that they use ICT, coding, or robotics, and complete at least one engineering design-and-test project. 

• Applied Maths: Students are evaluated on how they apply mathematical operations and reasoning to solve real-world problems or analyze their science results. 

The children put a huge effort into developing their STEM skills and received well-deserved praise from the judges. 

Hopefully 26/27 will bring a Platinum award to The Swan!