Nominations for the cross-curricular scheme - which incorporates mathematics, ICT, design technology and science - remain open, but will close at noon on Friday, June 3.

The awards are designed to make science cool for students, and urge them to innovate and create.

A key partner of the initiative is calling for last-minute entries. Phil Golding of Benenden Hospital Trust, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the awards, and are keen to locate the scientists of the future. The scheme strives to get pupils excited about science-based subjects; equipping them with skills and knowledge which could be extremely beneficial later on in life."

The competition is judged in three primary categories - Innovation, Investigation and Invention - and both primary and secondary schools are eligible to take part.

There is also no limit to how many entries a school and/or students wish to submit, nor is there any team size restrictions.

All entries will be examined by a leading judging panel and the winning schools will be invited to the annual awards event at Discovery Park, Sandwich in which they must showcase and pitch their inventions to a collection of Dragons in a Dragons Den-style format.

The overall KM Bright Spark Awards champions will be awarded a £500 cash prize.

Lisa Craig, events manager at the KM Charity Team which organises the awards, said: “With just a handful of days to submit your Bright Sparks entry, there is no time to waste. We believe it is extremely important to encourage young people to investigate, invent and innovate, and to feel comfortable experimenting with the skills they attain in the classroom.”

She added: “The awards are both tremendous fun and beneficial to equipping students with life skills such as presentation experience that will aid them in the transition to the working world. Plus, you and your team could be £500 richer which is a nice bonus!”

The KM Bright Spark Awards are backed by key partners Hectic Lifestyles, Pfizer, Benenden Hospital Trust, University of Kent, Amy Johnson and Herne Bay Project, and Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes)

University of Kent, Hectic Lifestyles, Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes) and Pfizer.

To enter and for more information, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/schools/brightspark/