The Partnership Grants Allocating Panel make grant decisions according to the following criteria:
- The project must be original to the pupils and involve research and/or investigation of an aspect of science or engineering. Topics should be exciting, imaginative and relevant to the lives of the pupils involved, and to society as a whole.
- The project should clearly demonstrate a sound use of scientific methodology and, in addition, mathematical skills where possible.
- The project must encompass the core values of partnership, creativity and maximum benefit to pupils.
- The project must involve a teacher at the school and a practising scientist/engineer, both resident in the UK. The scientist/engineer partner must have significant involvement in the project.
- The project must have clear aims and a means of evaluating whether the aims are met.
- The projects should involve pupils as actively as possible so they gain skills and understanding.
- The project should aim to involve as many pupils as appropriate to the project.
- The project must provide clear benefits for the pupils they could not obtain without the funds from the Partnership Grant.
- The project should have long-term, sustainable benefits, to pupils, teachers, scientists/engineers and the school.
- Proposed equipment and materials must be necessary and appropriate for the project, and must not be normally covered by the school budget, nor be expected to be provided for the normal curriculum in a school of your type.
- When a single piece of equipment makes up the majority of the project costs, it must be shown to be integral and vital to the project and have a clear legacy beyond the lifetime of the project.
- There should be a structure in place for disseminating the outcomes of the project as widely as possible, eg throughout the school, to parents and to the wider community.
Grants are NOT awarded to fund:
- consultancy or advisor fees for scientists, engineers, or freelance science communicators.
- bought-in kits or workshops from outreach providers or the scientist/engineer partner.
- the purchase of pre-prepared kits, unless they are to be used in a wider investigation.
- the purchase of PRIZES, REFRESHMENTS, services (eg PRINTING) and ICT EQUIPMENT unless shown to be integral and vital to the project and at a reasonable cost.
- educational research or development materials.
- normal running costs or equipment of a school science/technology department.
- fees for entry into other schemes such as CREST or EES.
- teachers based in educational establishments outside the UK.
- projects that take place outside of the UK, or travel overseas.
Low priority projects include those which:
- last for a short time (eg a few days) with limited scientist/engineer contact.
- focus only on the National Curriculum and exam results targets.
- are purely ‘design and build’ projects.
- are mainly concerned with building a pond, garden, observatory or other similar structure.
- are science/engineering communication projects, such as film-making.