Science and Engineering Clubs expansion

The Government has recently announced that the Science and Engineering Clubs pilot will be expanded, from September 2008, to include an additional 250 schools.

STEMNET has worked with a number of partner organisations to develop a list of 250 schools that have now been invited to run a Science and Engineering Club.  This selection has been based on a two stage process, with the aim of selecting those schools where data and local knowledge suggests that the introduction of a Science and Engineering Club would have the most benefit, particularly in terms of progression to post-16 study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects.

The selection process was based on analysis of progression data at different key stages and consultation with Local Authority advisers

The Proposal form

Annex A - Background to the Clubs

Annex B - Setting up a Club

Annex C - Contacts for STEMNET Regional Directors

Science and Engineering Clubs Pilot

As part of the 2006 Budget, The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that funding would be made available to 250 schools to set up and run Science and Engineering Clubs.

The Government committed to developing the After School Science and Engineering Clubs in March 2006 in the Ten Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014: Next Steps.  (available to view online or download below).  The Clubs will contribute to ensuring that the UK has a strong supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills and to improve young peoples’ engagement and interaction with STEM.

The Clubs are aimed at:

• enriching, enhancing and extending the key stage 3 curriculum
• improving attainment in, interactions with and experiences of science among those pupils already showing interest and ability in these subjects
• encouraging these individuals to consider continuing their education in STEM
• improving collaboration between schools, and between schools and industry and the research base
  

The Science and Engineering Clubs website includes resources that are available to all schools and gives advice and guidance on all aspects of setting-up and running a Club.  This information is available for all schools to utilise, not only those that are receiving DCSF funding.

Useful Links:

The open-access Clubs page
The Club Leaders Site