May University of Galway celebrate children-led science at 2025 START competition awards ceremony

Three primary schools have been recognised at University of Galway’s 2025 START competition for using scientific methods to investigate classroom well-being, learning and fitness.

 The START competition stands for Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials and is an annual competition that encourages schoolchildren to learn about healthcare decisions and understand how health and wellbeing can be improved through randomised trials - a type of research study, sometimes referred to as clinical trials and commonly used to determine whether a new medicine or treatment is effective.

 Every year, children who take part in the START Competition use a randomised trial to answer a question related to their environment or lifestyle.

 The three schools recognised for their research project were:

• Trinity Primary School, Tuam, Co Galway

First place for their randomised trial Does eating breakfast impact academic performance?

 After discovering that just 23% of classmates ate breakfast regularly, the 6^th class ran a randomised trial with other classes to test the impact of eating breakfast on academic performance. Their memory quiz showed breakfast improved children’s focus and the children now plan to present their findings at assembly and to local businesses, and to contact the Minister for Education Helen McEntee to highlight the importance of free school breakfasts.

• Scoil Bhríde agus Bhreandáin Naofa, Corrandulla, Co Galway took home second place for their trial Do specific exercises improve balance?

 The sport-loving 6th class students ran a randomised trial to see which exercises best improved balance. They tested core exercises, leg exercises, a mix of both, and a control group, with results showing core exercises had the most impact on balance. The children also made Physical Education game cards, ran demos for teachers, created leaflets for older people, and inspired the current 5th class to enter START next year.

• St Fintan’s BNS, Newline Road, Mountrath, Co Laois were presented with third place for their project Does 15 minutes of video games affect your concentration?

 Students in 5^th and 6^th class at St Fintan’s BNS measured their concentration using math tests and surveys, comparing results between groups who played games and those who engaged in colouring and outdoor activities. The results were largely in line with their expectations: they anticipated the video game group would be more distracted, and indeed, their concentration seemed slightly lower. However, they were surprised that the difference between groups wasn’t bigger. Their randomised design, presented with clear explanations, impressed the judges — especially their honest reflections on the challenging steps that can be encountered when conducting trials. 

 Professor Declan Devane, Scientific Director of the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network at University of Galway, said: “We started this competition for two reasons - firstly, we wanted to raise awareness of the importance of randomised trials with children, and secondly, we wanted to harness the creativity and imagination of children in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials. The high standard and variety of applications we receive each year demonstrate that the START Competition has indeed raised the awareness of randomised trials and capitalised on children’s innate ability to explain difficult concepts clearly and in a fun way.”

 The START Competition website provides tools for children and teachers to create their own randomised clinical trial in the classroom. It also shows how participating in the START Competition - by planning, running, and reporting a trial - connects with key areas of the primary school curriculum, including Mathematics, Science, SPHE, Arts, and PE.

 A panel of four experts in education and science selected the three winning schools: Iseult Mangan, Former Primary School Principal, Cloghans Hill National School who won the 2017 START winner and Teen Turn Mentor; Aisling Murray, teacher at St. Joseph’s National School in Kinvara and teacher of the 2018 START Competition winning class; Dr James Griffin, Assistant Professor and Medical Statistician at Warwick Clinical Trials Unit; and Professor Eleanor Molloy, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at Trinity College Dublin.

  Iseult Mangan said: “Participating in the START competition sees classes adopt a fun project-based approach which aligns to key aspects of the curriculum. It allows a class to collaborate and work as a team, encompassing so many different individual talents from design thinking and organisation to maths and creative display. The three shortlisted schools showcased their understanding and execution of clinical trials in creative ways, with teamwork and fun being evident in each of them.”

 The Health Research Board supports the competition through the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland, and is part of the celebration of International Clinical Trials Day across five collaborating university partners: University of Galway, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the University of Limerick.  

 For more information about the START competition visit www.STARTcompetition.com, or follow on Instagram at @start.competition.challenge and Facebook at @STARTCompetition.

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