STEM Blog

Want to learn more about Education Scotland’s STEM Nation Award programme? The flyer below illustrates the many benefits of engaging with the programme and shows how this whole setting approach to STEM improvement links with other programmes and priorities in Scottish education.

As ever, if you want to learn more or would like some help planning your next steps please contact our team at:

 STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot 

Top reasons for being part of the STEM Nation Award Programme

Download the flyer below to learn more about the support that’s available for ELC settings, schools and CLD providers embarking on their STEM Nation Award journey. In addition to the resources and events listed on the flyer, our friendly team here at Education Scotland can be reached at the email address below. If you’ve got any questions or are looking for some guidance on your next steps please do get in touch!

STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot 

STEM Nation Journey flyer

Download this guide for ELC practitioners to explore how the STEM Nation Award aligns with Froebelian principles and practice.

STEM Nation Award for Froebelian settings

Welcome to our February newsletter which is packed with news, resources and support for science and STEM education.

We’ll update this blog with new offers as they come in – so remember to revisit this page for the latest updates!

DOWNLOAD this newsletter below:

ES Sciences and STEM February Newsletter 2025

Education Scotland News and Events

STEM Nation Award Open Days – Sign up now

Over 300 settings (ELC, school and CLD) have now registered for Education Scotland’s STEM Nation Award, with over 116,000 learners in these settings. Sign up now to visit a range of settings (in-person or online) that have gained the full award. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/01/22/stem-nation-award-open-days-2/

Assessing Progress and Achievement in BGE Sciences – Early to Fourth Level

Education Scotland is hosting events to support assessment and moderation in BGE sciences from early to fourth level. Join the days to moderate at a national level and to build confidence in professional judgement. Glasgow and Edinburgh events are now full but there are still spaces at the events in Aberdeen (20 March) and Inverness (25 March). Register now: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/assessment-and-moderation-in-bge-sciences/

Renewing Scotland’s 3-18 Sciences Curriculum

Work has begun to review and update Scotland’s Sciences 3-18 curriculum. The national Sciences Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) Collaboration Group met in November to discuss what’s working well and what changes need to be made. Check out our latest Sciences CIC Update to access the event report, summary and PowerPoint: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/reviewing-scotlands-3-18-sciences-curriculum/

Building a #STEMnation

What are the key factors for success in terms of STEM approaches in Scottish secondary schools? What was the reach and impact of the £4.5 million invested in Education Scotland’s STEM grants programme? Education Scotland commissioned these two informative reports to answer these questions. Check out our highlights videos too: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/stem-education-reports-published/

Target 2030 – Learning for a Better World

Would you like to live in a better world? January 2025 marks the five-year countdown to Target 2030 – the date we are due to meet our national target for every 3-18 school and setting to be sustainable and for all learners to receive their entitlement to Learning for Sustainability. Check out the inspiring videos on our LfS portal and please consider committing to the Target 2030 in your forthcoming improvement plan: https://education.gov.scot/resource-themes/learning-for-sustainability/

Other resources and support

Royal Society Partnership Grants – Apply for £3000 funding

The Partnership Grants scheme funds UK schools and colleges up to £3,000 to work in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry to run an investigative STEM project. The scheme is open to all levels of education supporting students aged between 5 – 18. Grants are available too for a climate change focus: https://royalsociety.org/grants/partnership-grants/

NatureScot – Nature Discovery Map

Did you know? If we added together all the school grounds in Scotland then they would be equivalent in area to the city of Dundee! NatureScot’s Nature Discovery Map is a valuable national resource to help your setting record the amazing nature and biodiversity in your school grounds and local environment: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/young-people-learning-outdoors-and-developing-skills/nature-discovery-map-scotland

School Grounds Survey

The 2025 Scottish School Grounds Survey is now LIVE and is being run in partnership with Learning through Landscapes, Play Scotland and NatureScot. The survey is being distributed to all schools in Scotland in January, gathering data on the provision and use of school grounds. Schools who participate will be entered into a prize draw to win outdoor learning and play resources, such as training and den-building equipment: https://ltl.org.uk/projects/scottish-school-grounds-survey/

STEM partner offers 

Education Scotland leads national networks for STEM partner organisations. They have loads of programmes, events, resources, funding available. We’ve captured the highlights from our recent network meetings and put them onto one handy post for you to peruse: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/stem-and-lfs-partner-updates-feb-2025/

Secondary School Focus

New qualification – FIDA International Sustainability Diploma

This exciting new qualification from the Futures Institute of Dollar Academy (FIDA) puts Learning for Sustainability at the heart of the senior phase. It is equivalent to a Higher (SCQF Level 6 and 24 credit points) and has been recognised by UCAS. It is also fully resourced and is now being rolled out nationally following a successful pilot phase. Check out this blog to access more information: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/fida-international-sustainability-diploma/

Daydream Believers Creative Thinking Qualification

Many secondary schools in Scotland are now offering the Creative Thinking Qualification from Daydream Believers – available at SCQF Levels 5 and 6. Both teachers and learners are loving the freedom and flexibility it affords with many using the qualification to address STEM and Learning for Sustainability contexts. Find out more: https://daydreambelievers.co.uk/qualification/

PISA 2025 Framework

This September, some 3000 learners in 118 Scottish secondary schools will take part in the OECD 2025 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) Survey. The main focus for this year’s survey will be science.  Education Scotland is working on support materials for schools. In the meantime, check out the PISA website to find out more: https://pisa-framework.oecd.org/science-2025/

Climate change survey for learners

The Royal Meteorological Society is asking S4 learners to complete a short climate survey by June 2025. The ambition is to release this survey annually across the UK to track changing views and perceptions over time, providing valuable data. Please share this survey: https://www.metlink.org/blog/climate-change/participate-in-climate-literacy-survey-2025/

Research placements – Apply now

There are amazing opportunities for students to participate in research placements with universities and industry over the summer through SSERC’s Research Placement Programme and also with the IN2STEM Programme. These are targeted at S5/S6 pupils. Check here for further information: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2025/02/13/research-placements/

Socials

You can now follow us on BlueSky:

• @EdScotSciences: https://bsky.app/profile/edscotsciences.bsky.social
• @stemedescot: https://bsky.app/profile/stemedscot.bsky.social
• @EdScotLfS: https://bsky.app/profile/edscotlfs.bsky.social
• @RAiSEScotland (Twitter/X): https://x.com/RaiseScotland

Networks

Join over 2000 practitioners on our national Glow networks. Joining codes are:

• STEM: kz41xx4
• Sciences: uh9sf32
• Learning for Sustainability: o4sj08j

Websites

• STEM Nation Website and our events calendar: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/stemnation/
• LfS Portal: https://education.gov.scot/resource-themes/learning-for-sustainability/

Email us

• science@educationscotland.gov.scot
• STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot
• LfS@educationscotland.gov.scot

Feedback – let us know what you think about our newsletter. All feedback is welcome.

Education Scotland leads national networks for STEM partner organisations. Here are some of the links to programmes and events coming up in February and March 2025 which they shared at our most recent network meetings.

Dynamic Earth

Careers showcase in March: https://dynamicearth.org.uk/learning/schools/schools-careers-day/

Institute of Physics

Mimi’s Space Adventure: https://www.iop.org/explore-physics/mimis-space-adventure

Royal Highland Education Trust

Talk to a farmer week commencing 17 March: https://e-sgoil.com/dyw-live/events/24-25/talk-to-a-farmer-week-2025/

Techfest

Interview with an Astronaut: https://www.techfest.org.uk/space-into-energy  Pioneers of Progress: https://www.techfest.org.uk/education/ages-over-11/stem-into-innovation

University of Highlands and the Islands

Lend a Lab kit boxes & probationer programmes: https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/about-uhi/stem/primary-schools/

Institute of Civil Engineers

Partnership with Girlguiding: https://www.ice.org.uk/news-views-insights/latest-news/ice-and-girlguiding-partnership-expand-new-regions

Outdoor and woodland learning (OWL) Scotland

Scottish Junior Foresters Award and Scotland’s Finest Woods Award – Opens on 01 Feb: https://owlscotland.org/woodland-learning/awards/

STEMovators

Celebration of STEM events: https://www.stemovators.scot/events/ and also Energy quest: https://www.stemovators.scot/for-teachers/energy-quest/

Young STEM Leader Programme – Many activities can contribute to a YSLP Award. Come along to a training session to find out more – Events | Young STEM Leader Programme

Keep Scotland Beautiful

For more information on the Biodiversity SCQF course: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/lfs-education/biodiversity-action/

British International Education Association

STEM competition: https://bieacompetition.org.uk/2025-competition/

Applications for the Research Placement Programme for S5 pupils are now open. Formerly the Nuffield Research Placement Programme, S5 pupils get 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, computing, data science and geography/environmental so please make sure all departments are aware of the opportunity. Pupils can start their application now and will be able to apply directly for placements from mid-March onwards.

For more information, teachers and pupils can view the recording of an information session at Research Placement Student session (2) January 2025

Eligibility: Students must be:

• Over 16 years old and in S5
• Have at least 5 x National 5s at Level B or above, including maths, a science subject and English (or another humanities subject).
• Studying one or more Highers in science, technology, engineering, economics, geography, psychology, computing, statistics or maths.
• Available for 2 consecutive weeks over July and/or August

Students must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be living, or have lived, in local authority care, or be a carer
• Come from a family with a combined household income of below £40,000 a year (pre-tax)
• Be entitled to free school meals, either now or at any time in the last six years
• In receipt of, or entitled to, discretionary payments at school/college (e.g., EMA)
• Be the first in their immediate family to participate in higher education (not including any older siblings).

Pupils can begin their applications by clicking “apply now” at https://www.stem.org.uk/research-placements/students

If you have any questions, please contact aileen.hamilton@sserc.scot

In2STEM Initiative

In addition, the In2STEM programme is a free initiative designed to support students aged 16–19 (S5/S6) who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM. The programme will take place between July and August 2025 and includes:

• In-person work placements tailored to participants’ areas of interest.
• Online workshops focused on employability, skills development, and career exploration.

Visit the In2STEM website for further details and to apply: In2STEM – In2scienceUK

FIDA – The Futures Institute at Dollar Academy – is delighted to offer the International
Sustainability Diploma to schools across Scotland.

Key resources

• FIDA website: Sustainability Diploma – Fida
• International Sustainability Diploma by FIDA 2025_For Teachers
• International Sustainability Diploma_Introduction for Learners_2025
• A short video to introduce the course: https://vimeo.com/1052427098
• An online brochure: https://issuu.com/dollaracademy/docs/internationalsustainabilitydiploma?fr=sNjhkODgwODYxMTI

The course is free of charge, and schools may register from November 2024 for the 2025-26 session.
The Diploma is an innovative one-year programme. Students learn by tackling real-world projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and co-created with experts from industry and universities.

The course is designed to develop the important skills of independent research, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and entrepreneurship. Instead of examinations, students are assessed on a varied Portfolio of work which they build throughout the year. Assessment is carried out in schools and verified by FIDA.

The Diploma credit-rated at SCQF Level 6 and is worth 24 tariff points (equivalent to one Higher). As such, it is recognised by UCAS, universities, colleges and employers, and also carries international recognition.

To register, email: Smith-JA@dollaracademy.org.uk

Education Scotland has published two important STEM education reports:

Evaluation of the STEM Grants Programme Rounds One to Three

Factors in Successful STEM Learner Engagement: A case study approach

These reports provide valuable and timely recommendations as we embark on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle process. Importantly, they provide a summary of what has been achieved to date, and what more remains to do, in relation to our vision to build Scotland into a world-leading STEM nation. This ambition is critical to the success of Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, Scotland’s Innovation Strategy, Green Industrial Strategy and our Net Zero ambitions, amongst others.

These latest reports build on previous Ekosgen reports commissioned by Education Scotland including:

• Evaluation of STEM Grants Programme (Round 1): Final report (May 2020)
• STEM Grants Programme: Case studies (Sept 2020)
• STEM evaluation (Year 2): Final report (Sept 2021)
• Case studies from the STEM Grants Programme (Year 2)
• The Structural Barriers to STEM Engagement – Final Report for Education Scotland (November 2022)

Highlights from the latest reports are as follows:

STEM Grants Programme (SGP) – Year 3 (Part 2) Report

Watch our short highlights video.

• Over four grant rounds, overall funding awarded was £4,576,251 supporting 307 projects, 3,102 professional learning sessions, resulting in 69,349 practitioner engagements and providing 196,090 hours of professional learning.
• The SGP has consistently delivered high quality learning (86% saying this was good or very good in the 2020/21 Ekosgen practitioner survey) and with 87% saying the level of expertise of the provider was good or very good.
• 98% of practitioners felt the SGP had improved their STEM learning and teaching capabilities, with 49% saying it had significantly improved.
• Almost half of all the practitioners surveyed in the 2020/2021 practitioner survey said the knowledge gained through supported professional learning benefited their whole school or setting (48%) and a further 18% said it would benefit their whole cluster.
• The 2021 survey of practitioners indicated that the SGP made a substantial difference to the practitioner understanding of the need to ensure equity and equality in their approach with learners. Although 40% said they were “very aware” of the need to ensure equity and equality in their approach prior to the SGP support, this increased to 68% following support.
• From the 2021 survey, more than eight in 10 practitioners reported that learners had an improved understanding of STEM subjects (81%, 47% significantly so). Further, 77% report improved engagement with STEM amongst learners and 82% increased motivation to learn about STEM.
• Some 87% of practitioners believe that learners increased their attainment in STEM as a result of the SGP, almost a third significantly so. Practitioners also report that learners have enhanced STEM skills (84%) and improved performance (78%). More than half also think learners have more STEM-related job and career aspirations (54%).

Factors in Successful STEM Learner Engagement Report – we hope this valuable report helps to guide and support your STEM planning activities and strategies within your own contexts and in your work with settings and schools.

Watch our short highlights video.

The report’s key findings are:

• It has been found across the study that both challenge-focused activities and pupil-led initiatives (where pupils are at least partially responsible for the club) are the most well-received activities and lead to the highest levels of engagement.
• The importance of project-based learning, inter-disciplinary learning, and out-of-class activities in supporting STEM engagement should not be underestimated.
• Refreshing the curriculum – Where reconsideration of the subjects and topics on offer within a school has taken place, there have been notable improvements to engagement and attainment in STEM.
• Where there is a broad level of support for STEM learning within a school’s Senior Leadership Team, generally attainment and performance are better in these subjects.
• Creative use of Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) resourcing and creation of new pathways were the most common methods of retaining learners on the STEM journey, where the pupils came from deprived areas.
• New pathways (with greater focuses on practical learning) had also been developed in some schools, which had resulted in greater uptake in STEM subjects in cohorts from more deprived areas.

If this leaves you hungry for more data then visit our STEM summary page (National STEM Data Section) to see the positive evidence of impact identified through our Education Scotland Annual STEM Practitioner Surveys and Data Gathering Exercises from 2016/17 to 2022/23.

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
  (Fully booked)
• Glasgow – 0915 to 1515 Thursday 06 March 2025
  Location: Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8RR
  (Fully booked)
• 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.