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Partnership Grants

Inspire the next generation with innovative projects partnering UK schools and colleges with professional scientists or engineers.

"I have learned so much and the students have been thoroughly fired up by the scientific process." - Jennie Hargreaves, Lockerbie Academy, Lockerbie

Whether you’re a practising scientist/engineer looking to share an amazing discovery and rejuvenate your work or a teacher wanting to go beyond the curriculum and the classroom with your students, the Partnership Grants scheme can help you inspire the next generation.

The Partnership Grants scheme awards up to £3000 to fund STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) investigation projects at primary, secondary or colleges in partnership with a practising scientist or engineer. Since it started in November 2000, the scheme has awarded over £1.3 million to over 770 schools and colleges, igniting enthusiasm for STEM in thousands of young people across the UK.

Our past projects have done truly exceptional STEM investigations with amazing teachers, practising scientists/engineers and students. One project from 2014 was ‘Be a Crash Investigator’ - a partnership between the Lockerbie Academy and Inspector Neil Hewitson from Police Scotland. Their project looked into the real life application of mathematics and physics in car crashes, concluding with the Lockerbie Academy being selected to present at the Summer Science Exhibition 2014.

Further information

Information about the scheme for teachers and partners, and what you can gain from a Partnership Grants project.

Making an application

All the information you need to submit a successful Partnership Grants application.

St Mary's CE Primary School talk about their project (3 mins).

Applying for this scheme

The Partnership Grants scheme is now closed for applications. The next round of applications will be in the Autumn of 2015.

There are two application rounds per year, one in Autumn and one in Winter.

Information pack: all you need to know to apply
Restrictions on funding
Eligibility criteria
Judging criteria
Application guidelines
Examples of applications
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You can send us your draft application for comments up to one week before the closing date. See the Application guidelines for more details.

When the project is finished, you are expected to evaluate its impact. You might also consider ways to build on the project in the future.

Scientists and engineers

If you are a professional scientist or engineer and would like to take part in a Partnership Grant project you can read our advice on getting involved.

If you are a teacher looking for a scientist or engineer partner then please read the guidance on finding a suitable partner.

Case studies

Get inspiration for your project from case studies of work we have previously funded.

Testimonials

'I would strongly recommend all schools to get involved in the Partnership Grants scheme, as it interfaces science with the wider world...the children are able to relate to scientists as real people, and many of my pupils now aspire to becoming scientists themselves....'
- Carl Williams, Markland Hill CP School, Bolton

'I like investigating in the woods and using the magnifiers to see what's there.’
- Pupil from John Ball Primary School

‘I really enjoyed seeing the results: the work demonstrated that the children had engaged with my talk, and it was clear that they had put a lot of effort into it.’
- Dr Gemma Bramley, Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew

The Partnership Grants scheme is partly supported by The Radcliffe Trust.