Applications invited for research and development projects in science education

By Nuffield Foundation

The Foundation is inviting funding applications for research and development projects in science education.

These changes follow a decision by Trustees to once again open our work in science education to a wider range of research and development projects led by external partners.

50 years in science and mathematics education

This year, we celebrated 50 years of funding work in science and mathematics education. Throughout this time, our work has spanned research, capacity building and curriculum development. These projects have been carried out by the Foundation’s grant-holders and partners, although more recent projects have mainly involved the Foundation’s internal curriculum development team, supported by invaluable contributions from external consultants.

To give us additional scope to support external projects, we have decided that our small in-house science and mathematics team will no longer lead on curriculum projects and their dissemination through existing professional development networks. We will become more active in convening a range of activities in science and mathematics education focusing on policy, practice and capacity development.

We will ensure that the legacy of our curriculum work, along with outcomes of any new projects, is supported on our own website or the websites of appropriate dissemination partners.

Wider context

Our work in science and mathematics education should be seen in the context of our other areas of work in education and the social sciences. These include learning and development in early childhood, secondary education transitions, girls’ and women’s education, and statistical literacy and quantitative skills. As with all of our work, we are only interested in applications with a well articulated focus, a rigorous methodology and clear implications for policy and/or practice. Details of our funding criteria are set out in our Guide for Applicants.

The Foundation is also reorienting its programmes of STEM-related research experience for students. We are currently exploring ways in which our Science Bursaries for Schools & Colleges can better support widening participation and progression in STEM subjects.

As announced last year, our programme of Undergraduate Research Bursaries is being transferred to a range of learned societies and other subject organisations, and our involvement will cease after the 2013 round of awards.

Responsive and strategic engagement

Taken together, we believe that these changes will enable the Foundation to engage more responsively and strategically with the many individuals and organisations who share our interests in science and mathematics education. We hope they will allow us to fund a wider range of exciting projects to improve understanding, policy and practice in teaching and learning.

Explore our projects

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Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

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Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

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Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

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Early years digital media literacy review

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Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

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Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

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Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

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Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

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Young girl using an iPad at home
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Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

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New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

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Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 - 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

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New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

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New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

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New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

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New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

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New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

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In progress

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Artificial intelligence and education

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Optimisation and feasibility of Triple P parenting programme for remote delivery

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Understanding the take-up of early education entitlements

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Purposeful and effective practical work in primary school science

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Post-16 pathways: the role of peers, family background and expectations

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The impact of additional learning needs identification in Wales

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Comparing inequality and outcomes across post-16 education in the UK

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The long-term impact of the Education Maintenance Allowance

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Do same language subtitles help children learn to read?

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Education | 2022 - 2024

Experiences of 14 to 16 year olds in Further Education in England

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Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

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Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

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Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

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Education | Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Modifying school choice for more equitable outcomes in England

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Education | 2022 - 2023

The medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pupils with SEND

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A movement and story-telling intervention for reception children

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Education | 2020 - 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on mainstream schools in England

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Education | 2020 - 2022

Comparisons of cognitive skills and educational attainment across the UK

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The influence of headteachers on their schools

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A systematic review of early years degrees and employment pathways

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Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2020

Measuring the disadvantage attainment gap in 16-19 education

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We improve people’s lives by funding research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare and Justice. We also fund student programmes that give young people skills and confidence in science and research.

We offer our grant-holders the freedom to frame questions and enable new thinking. Our research must stand up to rigorous academic scrutiny, but we understand that to be successful in effecting change, it also needs to be relevant to people’s experience.

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