Welcome to the STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.
National BGE Science Assessment and Moderation events
Education Scotland is pleased to announce four upcoming national BGE Science Assessment and Moderation events.
Target audience
- Practitioners from early learning and childcare, primary, secondary and ASN sectors who teach BGE science
- Local authority lead officers with remits for science and STEM
- School leaders, QAMSO-trained practitioners and those with an interest in assessing progress and achievement in BGE sciences
Event dates and locations
- Edinburgh – 0915 to 1515 Wednesday 26 February 2025
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH
Register here - Glasgow – 0915 to 1515 Thursday 06 March 2025
Location: Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8RR
Register here - Aberdeen – 0915 to 1515 Thursday 20 March 2025
Location: Copthorne Hotel, 122 Huntly Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1SU
Register here - Inverness – 0915 to 1515 Tuesday 25 March 2025
Location: Kingsmill Hotel, Culcabock Road, Inverness, IV2 3LP
Register here
These events are FREE to attend. More information can be found here.
STEM Nation Award Open Days
Our team at Education Scotland is continuing to support settings across Scotland on their STEM Nation Award journeys. This year we’re looking to support a small number of settings who have achieved the award to host their own STEM Nation Open Day in February and March.
Target audience
- Practitioners from early learning and childcare, primary, secondary and ASN sectors
- School and setting leaders
- Local authority education officers with remits for STEM
Event dates and locations
There will be events running across Scotland including three virtual events. Practitioners are welcome to attend any event that is of interest to them. Further dates and details are available here.
Tickets will be available via Eventbrite. These events are FREE to attend. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Aims of the Open Days
- To exemplify and share interesting and innovative practice from STEM Nation settings with other educators and STEM stakeholders to promote the STEM Nation Award programme and support the development of STEM practice in other settings.
- To recognise and celebrate the achievements of individual settings as part of the STEM Nation Award programme within their own local community.
If you have any questions, please contact our team on email:
STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot
We look forward to welcoming you to one of these events.
STEM Nation Award Evidence Submissions
The winter window for STEM Nation Award applications is currently open. We invite applications from all registered settings in ELC, primary school, secondary school and CLD sectors. If you haven’t already done so, please use this link to register.
In order to receive feedback by the end of the current term, element evidence should be submitted by Friday 7 February 2025. Any evidence received after this date may not receive feedback until after the spring holidays.
Further details are available on this page: STEM Nation Award Evidence Submissions
Leadership in STEM element support session (23/1/25)
School Biology Teacher of the Year Award
The 2025 award is now open.
The award process has two stages: an initial detailed nomination, followed by a shortlisting of up to three candidates who are assessed in further detail through submission of a case study report and a school visit.
Please read the award’s guidance document before nominating a teacher.
Teachers can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague using the Nomination Form for teachers and their colleagues.
The deadline for returning a completed Nomination Form is 24th January 2025.
About the award
The School Biology Teacher of the Year Award seeks to identify the UK’s leading secondary education teachers, recognising the invaluable role they play in educating and inspiring the next generation of biologists
The award rewards teachers who:
- Demonstrate outstanding and inspirational teaching of biology at secondary school or college
- Contribute to the development of science throughout the school
- Influence the teaching and learning of biology beyond their own institution in other schools or educational settings
The award is open to all teachers who are working with students aged 11-18 years old, teaching pre-university level biology programmes of study, and currently employed in a UK based school or college.
Careers Showcase – Your Planet, Your Future!
Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th March 2025 10am – 3pm – an invitation for you and your learners to attend this FREE event.
Dynamic Earth are committed to supporting Scotland’s aspiration to be a STEM Nation and inspiring, encouraging and enabling the next generation of scientists and engineers into STEM pathways at school and beyond. This event will bring together a diverse range of STEM employers from research and industry. Your learners will have the opportunity to meet and engage with real scientists and role models who can share their STEM journey and offer advice for all budding scientists and engineers.
Here’s a taste of what’s in store:
🗻Recreate landslides with the British Geological Survey
🌳Fly a drone through a small tree obstacle course with Lantra
🤖Meet robots from the National Robotarium
🚜Train for peatland restoration on an excavator simulator with Peatland Action and NatureScot
🦀Get hands-on with coastal rockpool animals from St Abb’s Marine Station
Complete this booking form to register your interest in your class attending this FREE event or visit the website to find out more: School Careers Day | Dynamic Earth.
If you have any questions, please contact groups@dynamicearth.org.uk
SNiFS: Strath News in Forensic Science
The University of Strathclyde Centre for Forensic Science is launching a new webinar series beginning February 2025 titled “SNiFS: Strath News in Forensic Science”. The series aims to offer CPD to those interested in forensic science and wider STEM topics such as biology, chemistry, AI, and education, delivered as short lunchtime webinars so that it is more easily accessible to teachers and academics.
New and exciting fully funded STEM Scholarship launching in February
With funding from industry, 20 places are offered for P6/7 pupils to take part in the STEM Saturdays Scholarship. There will be 6 hands-on, fun STEM activities to take part in from 22nd Feb to 29th March; consecutive Saturday mornings at The Saunders Centre, Glasgow Academy. The focus for the first block is physics themes and developing maths skills in the process. There will also be guest contributions from local STEM ambassadors giving context to the themes being taught and linked to the outside world of work and innovation.
This is the Education Academy Scotland’s first step into primary STEM, with further blocks in this and future academic years.
The scholarship is open to all young people.
This is a fully funded opportunity with no cost and snacks and drinks provided to learners.
Research Placement Programme for S5 pupils
The Research Placement Programme for S5 pupils (and college students) is now open. Formerly the Nuffield Research Placement Programme, S5 pupils (and college students) have the opportunity to spend 2 or 3 weeks in a university or industry over the summer, completing a research project. This programme is aimed at disadvantaged pupils or those who will be first in their family to go to university. Placements can be in any of the STEM related subjects, including social sciences, data science and geography/environmental. Pupils can begin their application now and can apply directly for placements from February onwards.
SSERC is hosting 2 online information sessions for pupils/students to find out more about the programme and how to apply on 21st Jan 4-4:30pm and 29th Jan 12:30-1pm. Registration is via Eventbrite and teachers can register and connect to the session in the classroom, or pupils can register themselves and participate from home.
Registration links (with eligibility criteria) are:
Pupils can begin their applications here.
Dates for your diary
Deadline for STEM Nation Award evidence submissions – 7 February
National BGE Science Assessment & Moderation events
Dynamic Earth Careers Showcase – 10 & 11 March