The County School Challenge is a partnership project run across secondary schools in Northamptonshire and is aimed at Key Stage 3 students. 

There is a different theme each year and the 2018 theme was road safety. Around 40% of eligible schools took part carried out an in-house competition to identify a team to go forward to showcase their idea to a panel of judges at a countywide 'Dragons Den' style semi-final and then on to  a final held at the Castle Theatre, Wellingborough.

Over the past few years the challenge has been launched to thousands of pupils, both raising awareness of important social issues and teaching young people invaluable skills. It recognises the valuable role that schools play in promoting messages that have a society-wide benefit and also enables agencies to listen to and learn from young people.

The students gain valuable skills including delivering presentation, working in teams, finance planning and research. In 2018 it raised awareness of road safety and the aim was to help to reduce the number of 12 -16 year old road users being involved in road traffic collisions

Keith Millard, Senior Behavioural Change Officer, Northamptonshire Highways
Keith retired from the police in November 2014, having spent the last 18 years of his service as a forensic collision investigator. He has been actively involved in road safety for around 15 years, during which time he has worked closely with the road safety team at Northamptonshire County Council.

In his current post Keith’s primary function is to generate, facilitate, promote and deliver road safety education, training, marketing and publicity. He is responsible for formulating new interventions and works closely with the police, fire & rescue and Highways England – and builds partnerships with internal and external organisations to promote road safety.