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Teacher resources and opportunities

Partnership Grants

Do you have a great idea for bringing research alive in schools?

The Partnership Grants scheme funds schools and colleges up to £3,000 to run investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry. In June 2021 an external evaluation of the last three years of the scheme was undertaken (covering approximately 100 awarded grants). The report highlighted the success of the scheme and its unique value in a busy UK STEM engagement landscape benefitting students, teachers and STEM professionals alike. The 10 key findings of the report are summarised here (PDF). The scheme is open to both primary and secondary schools, including sixth form colleges. Schools outside of the UK are not eligible to apply. 

Tomorrow's climate scientists is an extension to the Partnership Grants scheme and funds schools specifically researching into climate change and biodiversity. The programme aims to give students not just a voice but an opportunity to take action themselves to address climate and biodiversity issues. 

Partnership Grant Microscope image
Image ©Kkolosov

This scheme is now open to applications

The 2023 funding round is now open to applications. The round will remain open across the year with three possible submission deadlines at the end of April, June and November. A full timeline can be seen here. Applications are completed online through Flexi-Grant®.

To help teachers and STEM partners with the application, free online training sessions and drop in applicant support sessions are being run. Sessions can be booked through the Royal Society's Event portal.

Apply for this scheme on Flexi-Grant®

Why apply for this scheme?

The scheme:

  • Provides an opportunity for students to develop key skills, including research skills, problem solving skills and data-handling skills, which will be invaluable for their future careers. 
  • Demonstrates the range of STEM careers available to students. 
  • Fosters long-term working relationships between schools and STEM professionals.
  • Fulfills the requirement of Benchmark 8 of the Gatsby Practical Science Benchmarks – ‘Students should have opportunities to do open-ended and extended investigative projects.’ Additionally supports the requirements of the Gatsby Career Benchmarks - ‘Encounters with employers and employees’.

How to apply:

Key dates: 

The 2023 application round is now open and will remain open across the year with three judging periods. To be considered in the first judging period, applicants will need to have submitted stage 1 and stage 2 by the end of April. Applications must be completed through Flexi-Grant®. A full timeline can be found here

For further information about the scheme please visit the pages below. If you have any questions, please contact the Schools Engagement team at education@royalsociety.org or 0207 451 2531.

To be among the first to hear about the grant rounds opening each year and to stay up to date with our other opportunities and resources, sign up to our UK teachers newsletter

Tomorrow's climate scientists image

Tomorrow's climate scientists

Partnership Grant project

What is the partnership?

Image of microscopes

Eligibility and judging criteria

Partnership Grant project

The application process

Eligibility and judging criteria

Application tips

Hydroponics growing equipment, one of the project plan ideas to support those applying for a Partnership Grant

Project plans

Partnership Grant project displayed at the 2019 student conference

Special educational needs and disabilities

Partnership Grant case study image

Case studies and interactive map

Some of the students who took part in the Young Researchers Zone 2022

Unique scheme benefits

Students holding a large circuit board, sharing their investigative work.

Information for Partnership Grant holders

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