Innovative model improves STEM learning
Funding supported over 700 primary school pupils to develop critical thinking skills, scientific curiosity and confidence through interactive science workshops.
Grants totalling £13,745 were awarded from the Mossmorran Wind Farm Community Fund [£3,265], Todhill Wind Farm (Larbert, Stenhousemuir & Torwood) Community Fund [£7,205], and Denny & District Wind Farm Community Fund [£3,275] to enable Edinburgh Science Foundation's Generation Science programme to deliver 21 workshops to schools across Fife and Falkirk during Spring 2025.
The programme brought touring science shows directly to schools, eliminating transport barriers and ensuring pupils in these communities could access the same quality of STEM engagement as their urban counterparts. Each workshop was delivered completely free of charge to participating schools, removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent access to enriching educational experiences.
Addressing the STEM education challenge
Primary schools across Scotland face ongoing challenges in delivering quality STEM education, with research showing that only 53% of UK primary schools meet the recommended minimum of two hours of science teaching per week. Rural and smaller schools face additional barriers, including limited access to specialist resources, distance from cultural centres, and budget constraints for external programmes.
Edinburgh Science Foundation's Generation Science programme directly addresses these challenges through its innovative touring model. Rather than requiring schools to travel to science centres, trained Science Communicators bring immersive, hands-on workshops directly to school halls and classrooms.
Operating for over 30 years, the programme has reached more than 1.25 million pupils across Scotland.
The grants awarded from the three community benefit funds enabled Edinburgh Science Foundation to target schools in areas that might otherwise struggle to access such opportunities, with workshops aligned to the Scottish Government's Curriculum for Excellence outcomes for scientific learning.
Delivering impact across three fund areas
In Denny & District, five schools participated in the programme, with 192 pupils experiencing workshops tailored to their age groups. Younger pupils at Head of Muir Primary explored day and night cycles through interactive demonstrations, while P7 students at St Patrick's RC Primary investigated electricity generation through hands-on experiments with generators and circuits.
The Todhill fund area covering Larbert, Stenhousemuir and Torwood saw particularly strong engagement, with 381 pupils participating across eleven workshops. Kinnaird Primary School's entire P3 year group explored climate science through three dedicated sessions of 'Our Changing Climate', while St Bernadette's RC Primary was able to offer age-appropriate workshops to pupils from P1 through to P7.
Transformative experiences in the classroom
At St Bernadette's RC Primary in Stenhousemuir, the 'Electric Explorers' workshop left such an impression on P6 pupils that they immediately began searching online for the Hexbug racing robots used in the workshop's culminating activity.
Their teacher rated the experience 10 out of 10 and looked forward to continuing the learning with follow-up activities. The workshops particularly benefited pupils who struggle with traditional teaching methods, including those with additional needs, by providing alternative ways to engage with STEM subjects through practical, hands-on learning.
Each participating school received comprehensive Teacher Notes Packs containing instructions for follow-up experiments using common household items. These resources enable teachers to continue delivering hands-on science learning without specialised equipment, extending the programme's impact well beyond the initial visit.
Looking ahead
The success of this initiative demonstrates the power of community benefit distribution in addressing educational inequalities. With the support of three community funds, Edinburgh Science Foundation was able to deliver a programme that not only met immediate educational needs but also inspired long-term interest in STEM subjects.
Hassun El-Zafar, Director & CEO of Edinburgh Science Foundation, reflected on the partnership's impact:
"Thanks to the generous support of community funds administered by Foundation Scotland, we were able to bring our touring Generation Science programme to schools across Falkirk and Fife. By supporting our mission to make science accessible for all, these community funds gave pupils the opportunity to access hands-on STEM activities at no cost to the schools."
The programme's message that 'science is for everyone' challenges misconceptions about STEM subjects being exclusive to those deemed 'clever' - a perception held by 44% of primary pupils according to research.
By bringing exciting, accessible science directly to pupils in their own schools, the Generation Science programme has helped to shape the next generation of curious, confident learners across Central Scotland.