Welcome to Engage, a community of teachers in schools in challenging circumstances who share ideas, access inspiring resources and apply for grants to help bring science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to life for all young people. What’s more, it’s completely free!
Read on to discover:
What is Engage?
Engage is a community of teachers and educators in schools in challenging circumstances who want to transform access to relevant and meaningful science work for all children and young people, especially those who are most often underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
It’s a group where teachers come together to share ideas, access resources and support, and apply for grants.
Engage is run by the British Science Association and managed through the charity’s flagship CREST Awards education scheme. Thanks to support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Engage is free for all teachers in schools in challenging circumstances.
Who can join Engage?
Teachers who work in a school in challenging circumstances can join the Engage community. To be eligible, the school must:
- have at least 30% of pupils eligible for pupil premium (or equivalent); and/or
- have at least 30% of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds; and/or
- be located in a designated rural postcode.
The Engage network supports schools to plan and deliver STEM activities that are welcoming and inclusive for groups of students who are more likely to face inequity in STEM, including:
- girls;
- LGBTQIA+ young people;
- young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds;
- young people from ethnic minority backgrounds; and/or
- young people with special educational needs.
Why should I join the Engage community?
Join the Engage community to share ideas, access inspiring resources, gain expert support and apply for grants. What’s more, it’s completely free.
Engage will help you provide exciting opportunities for all young people to get hands-on with STEM, develop key research, communication and team working skills, and build their confidence.
Join our Engage Teacher Network for the latest best practice, partner opportunities and offers, and to have your say. You can also access our library of free curriculum-linked STEM resources.
Attend our annual Engage Teacher Conference to hear from fellow teachers, education experts and businesses about the latest sector news, best practice and funding opportunities.
Apply for our Engage Grants to help you run CREST Awards in your school or apply for Kick Start Grants to help you run activities and events to celebrate British Science Week.
"Making use of the [Engage Grants] has helped us fund practical classroom activities and take pupils on extracurricular trips that might not have been possible otherwise."
Monique Darrell, Year 5 teacher and science lead, Goose Green Primary School
How do I get started?
It's simple and free to join our Engage community.
Join our Engage Teacher Network to share best practice, access inspiring science engagement resources and attend our annual Engage Teacher Conference.
Or you can apply for one of our two grant schemes and tick the box to join our Engage Teacher Network.
Save the dates
Add these dates to your diary.
Monday 10 June - Thursday 20 June 2024
Engage Teacher Conference
A free online event with a variety of talks and panel discussions. Designed to support teachers from the Engage Teacher Network transform access to relevant and meaningful science work for all children and young people, especially those who are most often underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
More information coming soon!
"I think it brings a new sense of curiosity and discovery to students who have not been afforded the chance to really engage in science."
Secondary school teacher, ‘Machines of the future’ pilot project participant
Exclusive offers
We run exclusive projects and partnership offers for the Engage community throughout the academic year to help teachers inspire young people who are underrepresented in STEM through our CREST Awards scheme.
Here’s what we currently have on offer.
CREST SuperStar kit boxes
This academic year, selected members of our Engage Teacher Network will have the opportunity to receive a free kit box packed with activity cards, equipment and everything you need to run CREST SuperStar activities in your school (typically suitable for children aged 7-11). If you would like to be considered, register your interest today!
News and blogs
Find out more about how joining our Engage community could benefit you and your students, and hear first-hand from teachers, students and partners about their experiences.
Engage Teacher Conference round-up
Teachers from our network share best practice and grant application tips, plus partner organisations share new initiatives.
CREST Awards 2021/22 Impact report
Find out how we boosted science engagement opportunities for UK students, teachers and employers in the 2021/22 academic year.
Teacher Andrea Simms from Northgate High School, Norfolk, explains how an Engage Grant enabled her to change students’ attitudes towards science and help them achieve Bronze CREST Awards.
George from Leeds is showcasing his automatic biscuit dunker that gained him a Silver CREST Award. His teacher, Caroline Maston (right), was one of the first Engage Teacher Network members to trial our accessible application process.
Teacher and student voices in the media
ITV News - Budding engineer builds biscuit-dunking machine
George, a 14-year-old autistic student at Lighthouse School in Leeds, achieved a Silver CREST Award for building a working automatic biscuit dunker from Lego. His teacher, Caroline Maston, was one of the first Engage Teacher Network members to trial our accessible application process.
Irish News - Taking nature walks and building bug hotels
St Canice’s Primary School in Fenny, Co Derry, used its Engage Grant to run a week of outdoor CREST-inspired sustainability activities for all year groups.
Schools Week - Making science accessible for all, even on a tight school budget
Niymet McCann, Head of Science at Regent High School in London, explains how she is making the most of our Engage Teacher Network and British Science Week Kick Start Grants to provide equitable access to practical science work for all.
Schools Week - Four ways to tackle inequalities in science budget
Monique Darrell, Year 5 teacher and science lead at Goose Green Primary School in London, shares her top tips for empowering underrepresented young people to flourish in science, touching on her experiences of receiving an Engage Grant.
More support
Need help? We’ve got you covered.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help!
CREST Awards resources library
From racing rockets to designing a household product that uses AI – explore our free, curriculum-linked activities to ignite students’ passion for STEM. Suitable for all ages, group sizes and abilities.
Help centre
We’ve got the answers to everything you need to know about our Engage community and CREST Awards scheme.
Case studies
Head to our YouTube channel for top tips from teachers on how to make the most of your Engage Grants and Kick Start Grants.
Newsletter
Sign-up to our free monthly e-newsletter for the latest education news, events and offers from the British Science Association.