Inspiring Innovation

CaSE’s ‘Inspiring Innovation’ report sets out recommendations for the UK and devolved governments to enable them to provide high-quality science education in primary and secondary schools across the UK.  

High-quality science education is crucial to driving forward the government’s plans to grow and ‘level-up’ the UK economy and society. In yesterday’s Queen’s Speech, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson promised a ‘skills revolution’ in a boost to the Government’s levelling up agenda. With the UK set to increase its public research investment to £22bn by 2024/25, it’s important that everyone should be able to participate and prosper in a more innovative economy and society. This not only means continuing to inspire an increasingly diverse group of people to become scientists and engineers, but also equipping all young people with the skills to take advantage of advances in research and innovation, whatever their background.

It is vital, therefore, that young people can receive a far-reaching and well-rounded science education in school. Primary and secondary schools up and down the UK are under immense pressure to deliver the best outcomes for pupils, which is why they need support from governments and devolved administrations to deliver high quality science education. 

About the briefing

This document has been compiled with support and guidance from leading experts in the field of science education policy who have helped to inform CaSE’s policy positions. Achieving these changes are vital to ensure that current and future generations can contribute to and flourish in a more research-intensive UK.

The briefing recommends support in three important areas:

• Creating a confident and empowered teaching workforce 
• Making science and engineering inclusive to all young people 
• Giving students exposure to practical, experimental science 

CaSE has produced the briefing with experts in the domestic education policy sector. Individual recommendations include:

• Creating support packages for teachers to attract applications in disadvantaged areas 
• All teachers to receive 35 hours of high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) per year 
• UK-wide governments to require all primary schools to have Science Leaders 
• Ensuring that practical work remains a part of assessment in the sciences 
• Reviewing pay and conditions for school science technicians to best attract and retain their expertise 

CaSE’s Executive Director had a letter on the briefing published in The Times.