The STEM Nation Award programme celebrates, promotes and builds effective practice in STEM education within and across sectors. Successful applications for the award will demonstrate whole setting approaches to STEM developments and improvement planning. It is likely that settings considering the award will be able to identify strengths in a number of the STEM Nation Award elements but may need time to develop other aspects before applying for the full award. The links on this page will direct you to a range of resources and professional learning opportunities that will help to support developments across all five STEM Nation Award elements in your setting.
STEM Nation Award Drop-in Sessions
The STEM Nation Award Drop-in sessions are for practitioners from ELC settings, schools and CLD providers who are interested in learning more about the STEM Nation Award programme.
The sessions also provide the opportunity for STEM Nation Award applicants to ask questions or seek support with their application from the Education Scotland STEM team.
The sessions are hosted on Microsoft Teams – you can join the meeting using a Glow or non-Glow account. There is no requirement to attend for the full session – you may wish to just drop-in to ask a quick question.
Sign-up for the next drop-in session at the Education Scotland Events page.
Support for the STEM Nation Award elements
Read through the hints and tips below to boost your STEM Nation Award submission. A downloadable version for all five elements is also available.
Element support resource links
- STEM Nation Professional Learning
- Education Scotland: Professional learning and leadership
- Education Scotland: Raising Aspirations in Science Education
- GTCS Professional Standards
- Young STEM Leader programme
- University of the West of Scotland: Supporting early learning in STEM module
- SSERC: Professional Learning
- Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching
- Scotland’s Curriculum
- Planning for and evaluating creativity
- Learning for Sustainability resources
- Professional development in outdoor learning
- Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy
- SSERC: Professional Learning
- Glasgow Science Centre: Learning Lab
- Daydream Believers
- RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) resources
- Data Education in Schools – Learning with Data
- Education Scotland: Improving gender balance and equalities 3-18
- Education Scotland: Improving gender balance, equity and equality in STEM
- Education Scotland: Improving gender balance and equalities video resources
- Education Scotland: Improving gender balance and equalities data guides
- Gender equal play in early learning and childcare
- National resource for relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education for children and young people
- Children in Scotland – Ideas to develop learning environment that supports all learners
- Child Poverty Action Group – e-Learning package and ideas to address the Cost of the School Day
- TEDxManchester Talk: Fran Scott – “Your Brain Will Lie to You When You Watch This”
Self-evaluation and improvement planning
- STEM self-evaluation framework for ELC settings and schools
- How good is our school? (Fourth edition)
- How good is our early learning and childcare?
- How good is our community learning and development?
- Adult learning strategy 2022 to 2027
General STEM resources and STEM partners
- Education Scotland: A summary of STEM resources
- Scottish Government: STEM education and training strategy for Scotland
- Science and Discovery Centres
- Learned Societies
STEM Nation Award Supporters
The STEM Nation Award is supported by a number of STEM partners. The STEM Nation Award Supporters are a group of not-for-profit and non-commercial organisations and third-sector groups who provide support and professional learning for STEM. Our supporters help us to promote the STEM Nation Award programme, share interesting STEM practice from their own programmes and, where appropriate, encourage and support settings with whom they work to apply for the award.
If your organisation is interested in becoming a STEM Nation Award Supporter please email STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot
Our STEM Education Officers will be happy to assist with any STEM Nation Award enquiries. Further support is available by contacting STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot and stating the name of your setting and the local authority in which you work.
