Smith’s Wood Big Ideas: Smith’s Wood Academy is celebrating after a team of Year 7 innovators secured a place in the 2026 Big Ideas Competition regional final with their life‑saving flood alert concept.
The Big Ideas Programme is a national STEM and enterprise initiative that connects young people with mentors from local businesses.
Students are challenged to design a campaign, product or service that tackles climate change, with innovation at the heart of every entry.
Smith’s Wood Academy’s entry, Anti‑Flood, is a hyperlocal messaging alert system designed to warn residents in flood‑prone areas when flooding is likely. Unlike the current National Emergency Alerts system, Anti‑Flood focuses on delivering precise, location‑specific warnings to help save lives and reduce damage.
The system would draw on real‑time weather and river‑level data to send personalised alerts via text message, app notifications and automated calls, giving residents clear, timely instructions on when to prepare or evacuate.
The project has been developed by the Smith’s Wood Big Ideas team – Bradley Morris, Autumn Rose Hicken and Lara Mohan – who will now refine their idea further with support from staff and industry mentors, over the next 6 weeks.
Smith’s Wood Careers Lead Dee Long said: “Last year we got through the regionals and came fourth place in the national finals, and we aim to do even better this year.
“We have contacted the Environment Agency and are hoping to collaborate with them as we refine the business plan and presentation. Please offer your congratulations to our successful students if you see them around school!”
The Big Ideas Programme team reported a record-breaking 149 entries this year, with judges narrowing the list to just 57 regional finalists. Judges praised this year’s submissions as “thoughtful, passionate and creative.”
Team Anti-Flood will head to the regional final at the University of Birmingham on 20 May.