Welcome to the fortnightly 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.
STEM Nation Open Days
Would you like to see how STEM looks in other settings? Are you thinking of a potentially improving your STEM offering in your setting? Are you looking at engaging with the STEM Nation Award programme? Wait! Exciting opportunity to see a setting that has successfully achieved the STEM Nation Award. Join us in seeing how STEM comes to life in the classroom. How staff, learners and parents/carers and wider Community have engaged to promote STEM and skills across learning within the setting. Through this open session you will have the opportunity to engage with learners and staff and see how STEM learning can be engaging and vibrant in settings.
We have scheduled two open sessions which you can sign up for by clicking on venue below:
9th March 2023 at 1pm-3:45pm: Our Lady of the Missions & Glenwood ELC (East Renfrewshire Council)
14th March 2023 at 1pm – 3.45pm: Mosshead Primary School (East Dunbartonshire Council)
The RAiSE network has created a range of technology planners to support teachers develop and deliver a range of motivating and engaging learning experiences across the primary curriculum.
The resources cover a range of technology areas – digital literacy; food and textiles; technological developments in business and society; craft, design, engineering, and graphics; and computing science.
They provide advice, structures, and suggestions for learning experiences, skills development, and assessment. They are aligned with experiences and outcomes across the levels.
Laura McCafferty, National Education Officer for RAiSE, said: “These planners have been a collective effort across our Primary Science Development Officer (PSDO) network and draw together inspired ideas which support teachers to develop and deliver technology lessons in an accessible, exciting way.
“This approach has been directly influenced by the success of the Science Planning Resource which has been accessed on the Education Scotland STEM Nation online resource page over 2800 times alone. The feedback and impact has informed the approach to this range in order to best support teachers.
“We are looking forward to seeing these planners implemented in classrooms and recognising the value to children in their learning.”
Links have been made to technologies capital with real-life context, Developing the Young Workforce and home learning.
The resources were quality assured by the Education Scotland Digital Team.
The planners are freely available here.
Help! I’ve been given the STEM remit for my primary school!
This session from the STEM team at Education Scotland will take place on 21 March. It is specially designed to offer initial support to those with a STEM remit in the primary sector and will include the following:
- Importance and relevance of STEM
- Practical suggestions, resources and support available
We want to hear about what else you need! There will be a few questions for you to consider prior to attending which we will do our best to respond to live.
The meeting will take place using Microsoft Teams and you can sign up here
STEM Nation Online Resource
This resource has been created by Education Scotland to support the implementation of this national strategy and to help develop a coherent national approach to STEM professional learning. Our hope is that it empowers practitioners to improve their approaches to STEM (sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics) education in their settings by:
- Helping practitioners navigate quickly and easily to high-quality resources, research and STEM professional learning
- Giving practitioners access to an online directory of high-quality STEM support organisations
- Supporting effective whole setting and school approaches to STEM through our STEM Nation Award programme
- Sharing up to date STEM news, ideas and practice from across Scotland.
This resource will be of use to all those with an interest in STEM education. Simply put Stemnation.scot in your browser on take a wee look here
National STEM professional learning calendar
Education Scotland STEM team, working with STEM National partners, have catalogued all professional learning for STEM being delivered across Scotland. This invaluable resource is live on the STEM Nation Online Resource Events page as a calendar, with useful links direct to the STEM Partners websites and booking information. Visit our Events page on the STEM Nation Online Resource to see the wide range of support available from Education Scotland and national partner organisations:
Events – STEM Nation (glowscotland.org.uk) The contents of the calendar can be viewed in a monthly list view here.
Secondary Sciences Network – Fraserburgh Academy’s approach to STEM in BGE 21 Feb 16:45 – 17:45
For secondary science teachers, this is the second of three sessions looking at BGE in the sciences. This session will focus on Fraserburgh Academy’s approach to STEM in the BGE. Hear from them as they describe how they created their STEM strategy, how they timetable STEM in the BGE and the way they use challenge and context based learning in STEM. There will be a chance to ask questions and opportunity for discussion. Sign up here via Eventbrite
Secondary sciences key resources – update
Based on feedback from our last session (which focused on the Structural barriers to STEM engagement), we have updated our resources summary PDF to include links to DYW regional groups, SSERC and My World of Work. Please find below a version for teachers and a version for learners. You can also find these on our STEMnation online resource here. We hope this is a helpful resource for revision too. If you feel we have missed anything vital, please let us know.
Sec Sciences Key resources – learners (Feb 23 update)
Sec Sciences Key Resources – Teachers and learners (Feb 23 update)
Creativity and science IDL pilot – 23 Feb 4-5pm
Are you a science or art teacher with an interest in IDL? 
What if a science teacher and an art and design teacher worked together to map out an experience that we could offer in BGE? Come along to find out more and be part of this exciting pilot to create a science based experience using the creative design process. This will be in partnership with Daydream believers so if you are already working with them, this could be a great opportunity for you to explore further.
Sign up here via Eventbrite
Starting out in STEM – Session 2 – 20 March 4-5pm
Still time to sign up for our second session on Starting out in STEM
- These events are aimed at early learning and childcare, ASN and primary practitioners who are starting out in STEM.
- The sessions will explore three provocations designed to look at what STEM pedagogy and contexts for STEM learning look like, why we teach STEM, and how we teach STEM.
- The live sessions will give you a chance to connect with colleagues and engage in depth discussion around your STEM practice. There will be signposts to helpful resources to get you started plus opportunities to network.
Sign up via Eventbrite: Starting out in STEM (2-part series)
The Scottish Education Awards
The Scottish Education Awards 2023 are now open for nominations. The awards are held to recognise and celebrate the exceptional and dedicated work going on by educators, parents and carers across Scotland. Nominations will be open until Friday 24 February. The nominees will be shortlisted and invited to a special awards ceremony in
Glasgow on Wednesday 7 June.
This year’s theme is centred around showing appreciation for incredible work demonstrated daily by in schools, settings and communities across Scotland. Nominations are open to all publicly-funded schools and CLD across all sectors; from primary and secondary schools to
Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings and special schools. Lets how our appreciation by heading to the Scottish Education Awards 2023 website to nominate.
The 11 award categories are;
• Community Learning and Development Award
• Curriculum Innovation Award
• Digital Innovator of the Year
• Gaelic Education Award
• Headteacher of the Year Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Making a Difference (Early Learning and Child Care/ELC)
• Making a Difference (Primary)
• Making a Difference (Secondary)
• Parent and Family Engagement Award
• Teacher of the Year
The winners of the Making a Difference (Primary and Secondary), Digital innovator of the
year, Teacher and Headteacher of the year and the Lifetime Achievement Award will go on
to be automatically nominated for the UK-wide Pearson Teaching Awards, held in London
later in the year.
UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 are coming to Scotland! Get involved
In the first event of its kind – the world’s greatest bike riders will come together in Glasgow and across Scotland in August 2023 for 13 UCI Cycling World Championships. As part of this we want children and young people from across Scotland to celebrate the Power of the Bike.
The Power of the Bike Challenge is a creativity and design project that looks for innovative ideas and solutions to release the power of the bike for us all. We want you to work as teams and develop your own creative ideas and products and most importantly have fun! The best projects will be featured at the world championships venues during the championships. The Power of the Bike is suitable for upper primary and older.
Fid out more through our webinars- these sessions will introduce the challenge and resources, and walk you through the process. There are three dates for webinar sessions, and you only need to attend one. Monday 20th February, Wednesday 15th of March and Wednesday 29th of March. Click on the link for tickets for the webinars The Power of the Bike 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships design challenge Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Learning for Sustainability Scotland – Two free professional learning opportunities.
‘Learning for a Sustainable Future’ – MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)
This free online course, ‘Learning for a Sustainable Future’, will be running once again from Monday, 13th March. Developed by the University of Edinburgh and Learning for Sustainability Scotland with support from the British Council, this five-week course is designed for and open to anyone with an interest in, or remit for, sustainability. The course is supported by skilled facilitators and has an additional strand for those working in formal or informal education, who want to bring some of the activities and issues covered in the course into their own practice. Over 5,000 learners from 158 countries have now taken part in this course: enabling participants to share and celebrate a wealth of ideas, resources and perspectives.
Full details, including how to register, can be found here.
‘Learning for Sustainability Hub’: in collaboration with GTC Scotland
Working with GTC Scotland, Learning for Sustainability Scotland have developed a Learning for Sustainability Hub, which contains the following opportunities for Scottish teachers:
- Explore: An introductory Guide and video
- Engage: An overview of LfS across the Professional Standards and a self-evaluation tool
- Enact & embed: Professional learning modules x 3, curated resources and professional reading
- Connect: Monthly Drop-In sessions for teachers to network, share ideas and hear more about wider aspects of Learning for Sustainability, and an interactive map for sharing practice.
Next drop in session is Thursday 23rd February from 16:00 to 17:00 – sign up here.
The Great Science Share for Schools
The Great Science Share for Schools campaign has already reached over 720K young people in 28 countries, and has been shown to inspire more time for working scientifically and supports young people to be creative problem solvers.
Want to find out more?
- Visit the campaign website – www.greatscienceshare.org or Twitter @GreatSciShare
- Sign up for free – follow the link to be a free member on the GSSfS webpage to receive regular updates/information and resources from the GSSfS Community
- Learn how to get involved on Wednesday 1st March at 15:45 . Sign up for the 1 hour New-to-GSSfS Webinar
BP Super ENTHUSE Partnership 2023-2025 (Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire)
- Are you looking for engaging, motivating, and exciting STEM activities to try with your primary learners?
- Is STEM a focus for improvement for you and or your school?
- Are you in need of resources to support practical STEM activities in your school?
SSERC, through an ENTHUSE Partnership with BP and STEM Learning, is offering ten primary schools in Aberdeen City and Shire the opportunity to join us on a two-year, fully funded, rolling professional learning (PL) programme centred around the STEM content in CfE such as: renewables, energy, electricity, climate change, learning for sustainability and digital technologies. There will also be clear links to skills progressions in the CfE Sciences Benchmarks.
This programme will increase the knowledge, professional skills and abilities, and confidence of individual practitioners who will then share this experience back in school with colleagues to benefit all learners.
For more information on how to apply take a look at the programme outline BP Super ENTHUSE Partnership 2023 (1)
RHET –Farming, Climate & Wildlife
4th March 10 – 11.30am Overcairn Farm, New Cumnock
Join the Royal Highland Educational Turst down on the farm to find out more about how the food you eat is produced and discover what farmers are doing to help the climate and wildlife. Craig will take you round his farm and share the journey of food as well as showing you how the farm is working to produce sustainable food and support habitats on the farm.
This session is offered as part of Education Scotland’s Enhancing Professional Learning in STEM grants and is open to any practitioner at any level who is interested in coming along and finding out more.
Sign up here
Nature based jobs and skill showcase – Nature Scot
Nature Scot will be delivering a session as part of DYW live to raise awareness of nature-based jobs. Young people will hear from a range of professionals working in the nature-based sector. They will learn about the importance of tackling the nature and climate emergency and how to secure a job working with nature.
For more information on how sign up for young people to attend this online session please use this link Digital learning from Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | e-Sgoil
Engineering STEM in the Classroom Short Course
Primary Engineer have created a brand-new high impact, fully funded sixteen hour short course. This eight-week programme is aimed at anyone within education who supports the delivery of STEM related learning in the classroom. It will support in developing an evidence-based approach to STEM education delivery and strategy development. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with engineers in industry – understanding their roles and how their skill sets can support them in the classroom to meet the current needs of students, preparing them for the world of work.
If you are keen to find out more take a look at this flyer for how to sign up Engineering STEM in the Classroom
Digital Xtra Fund launches eighth funding round to drive digital skills for young people across Scotland
Digital Xtra Fund has launched this year’s Round VIII (2023/24) Grant Awards, with the aim to help drive digital skills among young people. To date, the Fund has secured almost £1 million to deliver coding and tech clubs and initiatives nationwide. Over the years, the Fund has awarded 137 high-quality, exciting extracurricular computing and digital technologies initiatives across Scotland, that has helped engage nearly 45,000 young people in tech. In 2022/23, Digital Xtra Fund has supported 35 initiatives covering 24 local authorities and are on target to engage over 7,400 young people by the end of June, of which approximately 50 per cent will be girls and young women.
Supported activities must be delivered between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 and delivered entirely in Scotland. Activities must also focus on engaging young people aged 16 and under. Applications are welcome from UK-registered companies, charities, chartered bodies, local authorities, schools, colleges, or universities actively involved in the provision of computing education or digital technology related activities, especially for audiences from excluded groups or backgrounds (such as pupils from areas of high deprivation and/or rural isolation, girls and young women and/or minority groups). Eligible organisations can apply for grants from a minimum of £500 to a maximum of £5,000. Similar to last year, applicants will be required to submit their applications via online form found on the Digital Xtra Fund website.
To help applicants with the grant application, Digital Xtra Fund will also be delivering two webinars and also while the funding is open. New this year, Digital Xtra Fund will also be delivering four in-person sessions in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, and Edinburgh giving prospective applicants an opportunity to ask questions to the Digital Xtra Fund team about the grant application. The team will also bring some popular educational devices (e.g., Sphero indis and BOLTs, micro:bits, Marty the Robot, and LEGO Education SPIKE sets) to these sessions for applicants to try before deciding if they would like to include them in their application.
The deadline for submissions of the grant application is Thursday 6 April 2023 at 15:00. To find out more about eligibility criteria, online application and details about the webinars, please visit: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/apply/.
The Great British School Trip Bursary
Rising costs are making it harder than ever to make school trips happen. That’s why the Hyundai Great British School Trip is offering bursary support to help fund travel and entry to incredible venues across the UK.
For more information follow this link Bursary – The Great British School Trip
Dates for your diary
Mars Day 23 7 March
British Science Week 10 -19 March
Rolls Royce Schools prize funding – funds of up to £6000 available – outline an idea for a sustainable science, mathematics or technology project for development during the next academic year. Deadline April 2023
RSE partnership grants – funds schools up to £3000 to run investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry- applications open till end of April
Check out this case study from STEM Dundee on engineering and tools through loose parts play. This project was for Dundee City Council Primary teachers. This case study can inspire those keen to explore the links between loose parts
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the base standard for children’s rights and sets out the fundamental rights of all children. The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world and sets out the specific rights that all children have to help fulfil their potential, including rights relating to health and education, leisure and play, fair and equal treatment, protection from exploitation and the right to be heard. The UK ratified the UNCRC in 1991.
