Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud platform, offering fully featured services from data centres globally. Cloud computing is a term referred to storing and accessing data over the internet. It doesn’t store any data on the hard disk of your personal computer, and you can access data from a remote server. AWS offers a wide range of different business purpose cloud-based products including

storage, database, networking, mobile and development tools.

Amazon is a technology company and offers a wide range of services – it is most famous for its online marketplace. Amazon has several popular products such as Amazon Prime, Alexa, Kindle and Echo.

Schools do not pay to join the programme and it is funded by AWS. As part of the programme you are provided with one to one support from an AWS or Amazon Ambassador.

We have a small bursary fund to help schools who face major financial barriers i.e. travel or access to resources. They will need to apply and justify that they qualify against our eligibility criteria i.e. premium pupil students or lack of funds/resources.

Ambassadors are women who work at AWS or with their partners. All Ambassadors go through training and are DBS-checked. They work with schools throughout the competition to support students and are passionate about making a difference and inspiring the next generation.

While this programme is aimed at girls, we welcome boys to take part as we’re keen for everyone to be aware of the opportunities in the technology, and to challenge the gender stereotype within the industry.

We want boys to be the champion of girls – the reality is that under 30% of all jobs in technology are held by women. Throughout history we have seen examples of great women like Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, and Katherine Johnson, who was a NASA employee and featured in the film Hidden Figures. They have left a legacy for future generations and we want young people to continue in their footsteps!

Teams should be 3-7 students. Each school can submit two final ideas/projects to the final. Remaining teams should still submit their ideas and will receive a certificate of recognition from AWS, so please encourage as many teams to be involved as possible.

Each team must be at least 50% girls and an equal gender split to take part in the competition. AWS’ commitment is based on something more fundamental: it’s simply right that we ensure inclusion and diversity.

We want to challenge the gender stereotype within this industry and ensure we’re encouraging as many people, (especially girls), to explore careers in technology.

Teams should be 3-7 students. Each school can submit two final ideas/projects to the final. Remaining teams should still submit their ideas and will receive a certificate of recognition from AWS, so please encourage as many teams to be involved as possible.

In short, no. We want as many of your students to get involved as possible,  not just those who may already have an affinity to technology. Students can start designing their app but must remember that it needs to be focused on tackling/ solving real local issues. The programme is designed to be inclusive for those who don’t have in-school curriculum on app building and can run as a lunchtime club or after-school club. We can work to support you on how to set up the programme and hope the launch assembly generates lots of interest!

Yes, absolutely. We can tailor the programme to match the needs of your students and are available for telephone calls and video calls to support you during the whole process of the competition. If your SEN students are older or younger than the targeted age group i.e. 12-13 year-olds, they can still take part in the programme and we will work through this with you as we are passionate about ensuring there are no barriers to participating in the programme.

They are fun-filled sessions for students to find out more about technology and meet their AWS GetIT Ambassadors! We want young people to be inspired and continue to plan and design their app. Participating students are invited to learn more about making apps, the technology behind them and how to present and pitch their ideas  to a large audience. We have also designed resources for you to run a Bootcamp in school. (The Bootcamp was delivered entirely online for 2020-21 due to COVID-19)

There will be more details closer to the time to explain how Bootcamps will work. Students selected to attend a Bootcamp have a responsibility to share and present learnings back to their peers. (The Bootcamp was delivered entirely online for 2020-21 due to COVID-19)

It is up to the school and Ambassador how to run this session. Some schools run another assembly, others get teams to present or pitch their ideas, and some follow up with a more pastoral 1:1 feedback session.

Each school can submit up to two final submissions. You will need to submit a project via an online forum. Submissions should include a PowerPoint no longer than 10 pages, with your storyboard and any supporting materials.

If more than two teams took part in the competition but didn’t get through to the final two projects, they can record a summary of their app idea and names to ensure they are recognised and receive certificates of participation from AWS.

We have lots of schools taking part in the competition and want to judge fairly! An AWS panel selects teams with the 10 best ideas who are then invited to present at the semi-final and final where the winning app is announced.

In the Teachers Pack there is judging criteria and scoring to help you make this decision on the final two projects.

If it’s not clear which two projects you want to enter in to the final, you can run an in-school competition using the scoring sheet below. This is a way to enable full participation in the programme, and a transparent way to select the projects to represent your school.

You may want to whittle the projects down by holding quarter and semi-finals in your schools as part of assemblies, or hold a Dragon’s Den-style event. Another option would be a written application rather than presentations.

The 10 final teams with the best ideas will be invited to attend the semi-final, and present to a panel of industry experts. The AWS panel will then select a winning team at the final.

To continue engaging with schools and students after they complete the AWS GetIT programme, female alumni students are invited to meet AWS GetIT mentors who come from a variety of industries – women in tech or men who are allies of women in tech. These events give students a chance to hear from a diverse range of women in technology, and for mentors to share their stories and support efforts to encourage young girls to consider a career in technology. We also offer opportunities for peer mentoring and the opportunity for older students to support teachers and the competition for new cohorts.