Education Projects

Develop a Royal Society Science and Maths Education Policy Centre

There is a critical shortage of informed policy expertise in science and maths education in the UK.  The Society will create a Science Education Policy team with outputs ranging from substantial policy reports to short sharp briefings.   In all cases written outputs will not only be robust and authoritative, they will be readable and accessible to a range of audiences. In addition to the production of written outputs we will engage in meetings with key policy and opinion formers and provide clear media briefings.

Create science and maths education research fellowships

Unless steps are taken to increase the supply of high quality researchers in mathematics and science education, the ramifications could be extensive and severe.  Education Research Fellowships would supply a major need. The Society has considerable expertise of helping academics in science in the early stages of their career. A similar, though smaller, scheme for mathematics and science education would bring new talent into the disciplines and greatly improve the basis for educational policy decisions.  Education Research Fellowships cost a total of £250,000 per fellowship over a five year period.

Provide a co-ordinated unified voice for science and maths education

The Society will bring together leading science and mathematics organisations through the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) and a similar body for science education Science Community Partnership Supporting Education (SCORE) in conjunction with the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, the Biosciences Federation, the Science Council and the Association for Science Education.  Annual support costs for SCORE will be £160,000 and for ACME will be £150,000.

Bringing Scientists into Schools

The Society has had a Partnerships Grants Scheme for over 20 years and is proven to be effective. Each participating school is provided a grant for a key piece of scientific equipment and materials and is linked with a scientist or engineer.  The Campaign will seek private support to expand this scheme which has enabled some 50,000 students aged 5 to 19 to take part in a whole host of investigations, giving them the opportunity to experience authentic science and be inspired by it.  The scheme will be broadened to enable schools with more limited expertise in practical work to participate.  Each Partnership Grant costs £2,500 per school on average.

Giving Opportunities

Giving opportunities range from endowment support for the education policy centre to Education Research Fellowships. An endowment of £5 million is sought for education policy. Each Education Research Fellowship would require an endowment of £1.25 million while annual support would require £250,000 over five years. Donors may wish to support direct activities in schools with partnership grants starting at £2,500 per annum. Donors can provide incremental operations sponsorship for each of these areas as well.