Elevate STEM
A fully funded, three-year STEM improvement partnership for secondary schools
Build stronger subject knowledge in KS3 science and maths teaching, and set your students up for better GCSE outcomes.
Why now
Elevate STEM is a free fully funded programme built to tackle the pressures your department is facing right now:
- GCSE Grade 4+ STEM attainment below the national average
- Little access to subject-specific CPD for early-career and non-specialist teachers
- Deeper subject knowledge demands arriving with the new national curriculum from September 2028
- Rising pressure to strengthen the KS4 pipeline and close attainment gaps
We work directly with your KS3 (S1-S3) teachers to build subject knowledge, enrich curriculum delivery, and open up real, practical STEM experience — building stronger progression into triple science and better readiness for GCSE success.
2026-2027 places are open in four priority regions:
West Midlands
Birmingham
11 November 2026
South Yorkshire
Sheffield
16 November 2026
Merseyside
Liverpool
18 November 2026
Glasgow
Glasgow
20 November 2026
Schools outside these regions are welcome to express their interest and we’ll contact you about future opportunities.
What your school gets
- Three CPD sessions each academic year, one per term
- Free high-quality STEM equipment and resources per session worth over £500 each – yours to keep!
Aligned to the programme topics:- Polymers – hands-on polymers investigation kit (Term 1)
- Density – density cube sets and displacement vessels
- Smart Materials – smart materials exploration kit
- Accessible local training venues
- Targeted support for early career and non-specialist science teachers
- Structured evaluation, impact reporting and case studies
- A multi-year pathway built for lasting, measurable improvement
One place per school, used flexibly. One teacher can attend all three sessions, or three teachers can each attend a single session – whichever best supports the development of your department.
What it means for your school
- A coordinated approach to strengthening KS3 (S1-S3) STEM
- More confident teachers with deeper subject knowledge
- Stronger curriculum consistency and progression pathways
- More engaged students with a clearer route into STEM success
- Improved readiness for GCSE Grade 4+ (National 5 A-D) attainment
- Less CPD procurement pressure and paperwork
Teachers share learning internally, amplifying impact across departments and year groups.
FAQ
Is it really free?
Yes. Elevate STEM is fully funded.
How many teachers can take part?
More than one teacher from the same school can take part, but we provide one kit per school. To give as many schools as possible the opportunity to benefit from Elevate STEM, priority is given to one place per school. Schools can choose to have one teacher attend all three CPD training sessions, or share the opportunity across the department by sending a different teacher to each session.
Do I need to attend all three sessions?
You can choose whether one teacher attends all sessions or different teachers attend individual sessions.
Do schools outside the priority regions qualify?
Please complete our” Express Interest in Elevate STEM” form, and we’ll be in touch about available opportunities.
How do I get the free resources and equipment?
You’ll receive resources and equipment for your school as part of the programme. They are provided during the CPD training sessions and are for the school to keep.
What commitment does my school need to make?
We ask schools to release a teacher for each of the three CPD training sessions and support the sharing of learning within departments. Schools may also be invited to take part in programme evaluation activities, such as providing feedback or contributing to a case study to help us understand and share the programme’s impact.
When will the other CPD training dates be released?
When you register for Elevate STEM, you’ll be able to book your first CPD session. We release training dates throughout the academic year, and all participating schools will be notified as soon as new dates become available. You’ll receive details by email and be invited to register for the remaining sessions at the appropriate time.
Join
Elevate STEM
What we need from you:
- Click here to Register Now
- Release a designated KS3 (S1-S3) teacher for each of the three CPD days per year
- Support internal sharing of learning within departments
It’s completely FREE for your school!
Sign up directly to one of our course dates here, or simply express your interest in the programme and we’ll be in touch with more dates.
Available dates
- 11 November 2026, Birmingham
- 16 November 2026, Sheffield
- 18 November 2026, Liverpool
- 20 November 2026, Glasgow
Express interest in Elevate STEM
This form is an expression of interest only and does not register your school for Elevate STEM.
If your school is not in one of our priority regions, you are welcome to express your interest and we will contact you about future opportunities.
