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Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - Happy New Year!
Welcome back to a new academic year and to the latest STEM newsletter for Primary Schools from your local STEM Ambassadors Partner. We are looking forward to another busy term - and will be highlighting resources and sharing more details of local STEM events in your area.
There are several new STEM engagement opportunities available for the forthcoming half term. STEM Ambassadors are still keen to offer as many enrichment opportunities as possible to learners and we welcome requests for STEM Ambassadors to help with any enrichment opportunity - please contact us directly to discuss your individual need.
Why not invite a STEM Ambassador into your classroom to help with subject content and CWRE? If we can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please encourage new colleagues to register with STEM Learning in order to receive the See Science newsletter in the future using the link www.stem.org.uk/user/register and then opt to receive newsletters.
See Science have a facebook page where we will also be sharing lots of new ideas regularly - please like or follow the page. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can support the teaching of STEM subjects.
Wishing you a successful 2026,
The See Science Team
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Boosting Science Education in Wales -
Building confidence, supporting practice and transforming science education, backed by the Welsh Government and in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry and Science Made Simple.
The Programme is funded by the
Curriculum for Wales grant
to
strengthen practitioners’ pedagogical and subject knowledge and build confidence through evidence-based professional development and specialised mentoring and coaching. Practitioners and technicians will benefit from tailored teaching resources and online modules, alongside the creation of networks to foster peer support.
2. Primary practitioners will be able to engage in:
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Primary Science Days:
Dynamic, hands-on events featuring three practical, themed workshops designed to boost confidence in delivering engaging primary science.
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Steps into Science Primary Workshops:
Co-developed, smaller workshops focusing on practical classroom strategies, driven by your feedback.
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Thinking, Doing, Talking Science:
An evidence-based programme adapted for the Curriculum for Wales. Provides practical strategies, ready-to-use activities, and effective assessment techniques, especially benefiting disadvantaged learners.
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(North Wales) Friday 16 January 2026, 9.30am–3pm
(South Wales) Tuesday 20 January 2026, 9.30am–3pm
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Sparks, pops and people: primary science day meeting
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Institute of Physics (IOP) are excited to launch our inaugural primary science day meeting !
I
t will be a day of hands-on science activities that you will be able to use to your classroom. We want to provide you the opportunity to immerse yourself in science for the day and take away some great ideas to share in your schools.During the day there will be three hands-on workshops, one delivered by the RSC, one by the IOP and a third delivered by a special guest. Alongside the workshops there will be an opportunity to hear about local outreach provision and, of course, network with colleagues over coffee and lunch.
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Successful Astro Pi training session
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In November a successful session was held for teachers and STEM Ambassadors to learn more about Astro Pi.
At this session Fergus Kirkpatrick, from Raspberry Pi, walked through the Mission Zero project guide, equipping all with the
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knowledge to help young people write and send Python code to the International Space Station (ISS).He introduced the browser-based coding environment and gave some tips for running Mission Zero in schools and Code Clubs.
He is happy to run training in early 2026 so please contact us if you are interested
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British Computer Society: Teachers CPD
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At BCS, we're ensuring the digital journey is safe and positive for everyone, by raising standards of competence and conduct across the IT industry and tackling the ethical challenges we face along the way.
We influence and improve computing education in all its forms to improve opportunities for young people, society and the economy.
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BCS are keen to look at running some workshops for teachers to show them how they can use the LEGO kits that many of them already have in both primary and secondary schools and also to show them how they could use the lesson plans.
They are keen to explore how we could survey schools to understand what assistance they feel they need in this area. If you are able to spend 5 mins completing a Google Form our ambassadors would be very grateful
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British Science Week. - How to Access STEM Volunteers
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Find out how the sTEM Ambassador Programme can help support learnign and provide inspiration during British Science Week 2026 and beyond.
n this 30-minute session, you will find out how the STEM Ambassadors Programme can support learning and provide inspiration during British Science Week 2026 and beyond. You will learn how to access 28,000 industry and HE volunteers from across the UK and how they can support this year’s theme of ‘Curiosity’. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions.
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Ambic are bespoke furniture manufacturers based in the North East of England. We have the capability to manufacture just about anything furniture-related
We’re inviting registration from all primary schools to take part in the 2026 Ambic STEM Challenge. This year’s competition will be challenging students to design a unique piece of educational furniture.
The primary school competition will be adapted to an appropriate level but will still involve the design of an item of furniture that meets an identified demand within their school.
To register your interest please click below and complete our short form to ensure you receive the notifications and free resources to enter the competition.
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Engage CREST funding- Primary and Secondary
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Provides grants and free award fees to schools in challenging circumstances to help them run CREST Awards.
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The program aims to address inequality in STEM education and inspires young people to pursue related fieldsThe funding is available for schools with a high percentage (at least 30%) of pupils eligible for free school meals/pupil premium or from ethnic minority backgrounds, or those in remote/rural locations.
who are underrepresented in STEM
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Provides £350 in grant money (for equipment, field trips, etc.) plus a voucher covering up to £350 of CREST Award fees
.Applications open
January 2026
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British Science Week packs- Primary and Secondary
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The
free
British Science Week activity packs are filled with a wide range of fun and educational activities.
Developed in collaboration with our trusted partners and supported by UK Research and Innovation, they aim to foster curiosity, creativity, and a love for discovery among participants.
The activity packs cater to a broad age range, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for different groups.
They include resources suitable for children from under 5s up to around age 14, as well as activities designed for community groups.
Full packs released in
January 2026
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The next DVLA Code Challenge will take place on 7 July 2026
The 2026 challenge is open to children and young adults from the age of 7 to 16. Your School, College or Group can enter any or all of the two categories
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DVLA Code Challenge for students aged 7 to 111
The Code Challenge enables students of all ages to develop their problem solving, teamworking skills and improve their knowledge of computer programming in a fun and innovative way and also to win IT Equipment for their schools or Groups.
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Astro Pi Free School visit
(yrs 5 & 6)
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Mission Zero
offers young people the amazing opportunity to write a computer
program that will run on Astro Pi computers on board the International Space
Station (ISS) and display a colourful image or animation to the astronauts.
Young people that take part and submit a finished program will have their code
sent to the ISS in Spring 2026 and receive a certificate with the time and
location their program ran in space.
If your school is interested in having a STEM Ambassador visit to support this opportunity please contact us below.
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Resources and Benefits
The Big Schools' Birdwatch provides an excellent opportunity for cross-curricular learning in science, maths, and geography.
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Free Resources:
Registration gives you access to a wide range of free resources, including ID guides, activity sheets, and lesson plans, available bilingually in English and Welsh.
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Data Analysis:
After submitting results, you can download certificates and access historical data for analysis and comparison with national trends.
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Wild Challenge Award:
Participation counts as one activity towards the free
RSPB Wild Challenge Award
, an initiative that encourages pupils to discover and help local wildlife
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The 2026 eventwill take place from
6 January to 13 February 2026
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How to Take Part
Taking part is a simple process for teachers and pupils:
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Register:
A teacher needs to register on the
official RSPB website
to access all the free, downloadable resources, including guides and survey sheets
. You can
register today on the RSPB website
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Get Counting:
Choose any one-hour slot within the event dates (
6 January - 13 February 2026
) to count the birds in your school grounds. Record the maximum number of each bird species seen at any one time to avoid double counting.
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Submit Results:
Submit your class's results online by the deadline of
23 February 2026
. Even if you see no birds, the data is valuable for the RSPB's conservation efforts.
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Calling all practitioners and digital leaders in Wales!
Are you passionate about digital learning and keen to influence how professional learningcan support schools and settings across Wales.We’re looking for practitioners and digital leaders to join a small focus group with STEM Learning to help shape the Teaching Digital with Confidence (TDC) Wales programme. This group will have a voice in how we can build practitioner confidence and understanding of computing and digital skills including AI,
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coding, media literacy and computational thinking,to better plan and connect learning across Curriculum for Wales. You don’t need to be an expert in these areas to take part, just bring your teaching experience, curiosity andcommitment to supporting learners. Your perspective is valuable, whatever your startingpoint.This work aims to build practitioner confidence and understanding of computing and digitalskills, including AI, coding, media literacy and computational thinking, to better plan andconnect learning across the Curriculum for Wales.We’re inviting practitioners and digital leaders to join a focus group with STEM Learning tohelp shape the Teaching Digital with Confidence (TDC) Wales programme – supporting the effective implementation of the Digital Competence Framework and computing within the Curriculum for Wales
Date: Wednesday 25 February Time: 4:00pm – 4.45pm
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
As the initiative develops, further opportunities for involvement will also be available.
Express your interest here:
Expression of Interest: STEM Learning Focus Group Primary – Fill in form
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Share with your friends and colleagues
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Do all staff in your Department receive the See Science newsletter - please alsk them to register on the STEM Learning Platform to enable them to receive newsletters, request STEM Ambassadors, download resources and register for CPD opportunities
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Become part of the STEM Community
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We are a community of over 35,000 teachers; technicians; TA's and governors, all involved in the STEM education of young people supporting and collaborating with each other to improve the outcomes of young people
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