RAiSE - Raising Aspirations in Science Education

Published 20/11/2018.  Last updated 12/12/2023
sourceLearning resources schoolSciences categorySTEM

Raising Aspirations in Science Education (RAiSE) empowers primary school practitioners with the confidence, skills, and networks to develop and deliver engaging and motivating STEM learning experiences.

The work of the RAiSE programme is aligned to the STEM Education and Training Strategy and the Developing the Young Workforce Programme. It aims to raise attainment and achievement in primary science and STEM, and tackle inequity and inequality in learners' experiences and outcomes.

What is RAiSE?

RAiSE is a programme of Education Scotland, The Wood Foundation, Scottish Government and participating local authorities. It has engaged with 27/32 of Scotland’s local authorities. The programme was established in 2016 as a pilot programme and was then extended nationally.

Participating local authorities are provided with funding to recruit a dedicated Primary Science Development Officer (PSDO). The role of the PSDO is to lead and co-ordinate high-quality professional learning and to support practitioner planning, networking, and collaboration. Authorities that have participated are:

  • Aberdeenshire Council
  • Angus Council
  • City of Edinburgh Council
  • Clackmannanshire Council
  • Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
  • Dumfries and Galloway Council
  • Dundee City Council
  • East Renfrewshire Council
  • Falkirk Council
  • Fife Council
  • Glasgow City Council
  • Midlothian Council
  • Moray Council
  • North Ayrshire Council
  • North Lanarkshire Council
  • Orkney Islands Council
  • Renfrewshire Council
  • South Ayrshire Council
  • South Lanarkshire Council
  • The Highland Council
  • West Dunbartonshire Council
  • West Lothian Council

What has happened so far?

The network of PSDOs, supported by the National Education Officer for Primary Science, has helped to build the capacity and confidence of practitioners. This has led to innovative approaches and supported the embedding of STEM within the curriculum, and engaging pupils in meaningful ways. The programme has also created strong networks and partnerships, engaging a range of organisations and STEM providers. A range of case studies, reports, and statistics relating to the programme’s impact are available below.

In addition, the RAiSE network has collaborated to produce a national Science planning resource for Early to Second Level. This resource supports planning for science around the experiences and outcomes from Early to Second Level. Each plan contains links to other curricular areas and contexts to support interdisciplinary learning. In addition, ‘how to’ videos have been included to help practitioners engage with some of the suggested activities. These will continue to be added to over time.

Programme statistics

  • number of practitioner engagements: 29,999
  • number of establishment engagements: 12,004
  • number of cluster engagements in RAiSE activities: 2,173
  • number of RAiSE CLPL events: 2,716
  • cumulative RAiSE programme practitioner CLPL hours: 70,529

Case studies

PDF file: Rosie Revere Engineer project (417 KB) The Rosie Revere, Engineer project is a series of engineering lessons inspired by a popular children’s storybook. It aligns with a number of E and Os in technologies for early and second level primary school pupils.

PDF file: Family science clubs pilot (740 KB) This case study will be of interest to practitioners who are looking at different ways of engaging families across the school.

PDF file: Engineering and tools through loose parts play (921 KB) This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are keen to support young people explore the links between loose parts and the engineering design process.

PDF file: Orkney Builders Case Study (1.2 MB) This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are considering approaches to introducing and developing tool use within the classroom and exploring local business input.

PDF file: Pondering Pond Life Case Study (775 KB) This case study will be of interest to practitioners who are keen to support young people in understanding the scientific method through a contextualised, engaging learning opportunity.

PDF file: STEM Hub Case Study (2.9 MB) This case study will be of interest to settings looking to set up a STEM Hub or area. It will illustrate an approach to developing skills experiences linked to STEM.

PDF file: Science Stories Case Study (1.3 MB) - This case study considers how pupils could more effectively recount their science investigation and lesson outcomes through stories or a child-led creative output, rather than writing a standard science report.

PDF file: Improving Pedagogy in STEM (1.4 MB) - This case study will be of interest to practitioners and Senior Leadership Teams in the primary sector.

PDF file: Linking Developing the Young Workforce and STEM (1.0 MB) - This will be of interest to all practitioners, STEM leads in school, and those establishments keen to forge STEM partnerships.

PDF file: Developing approaches to transition using Astrobiology (1.0 MB) - This case study will be of interest to primary and secondary school leaders, curriculum leaders, upper primary practitioners, secondary science teachers and university partners.

PDF file: Developing Primary STEM leaders (1.5 MB) - This case study is for practitioners and Senior Leadership Teams in the primary sector.

PDF file: Developing Parental Engagement (1.3 MB) - This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are considering approaches to developing parental engagement in their setting.

Reports

For more information, contact Laura McCafferty, National Education Officer for RAiSE: laura.mccafferty@educationscotland.gov.scot

Termly newsletter

Autumn 2023

PDF file: RAiSE newsletter (1.6 MB)

August 2023

PDF file: RAiSE newsletter (2 MB)

Good news stories

RAiSE - Raising Aspirations in Science Education

Published 20/11/2018.  Last updated 12/12/2023
sourceLearning resources schoolSciences categorySTEM

Raising Aspirations in Science Education (RAiSE) empowers primary school practitioners with the confidence, skills, and networks to develop and deliver engaging and motivating STEM learning experiences.

The work of the RAiSE programme is aligned to the STEM Education and Training Strategy and the Developing the Young Workforce Programme. It aims to raise attainment and achievement in primary science and STEM, and tackle inequity and inequality in learners' experiences and outcomes.

What is RAiSE?

RAiSE is a programme of Education Scotland, The Wood Foundation, Scottish Government and participating local authorities. It has engaged with 27/32 of Scotland’s local authorities. The programme was established in 2016 as a pilot programme and was then extended nationally.

Participating local authorities are provided with funding to recruit a dedicated Primary Science Development Officer (PSDO). The role of the PSDO is to lead and co-ordinate high-quality professional learning and to support practitioner planning, networking, and collaboration. Authorities that have participated are:

  • Aberdeenshire Council
  • Angus Council
  • City of Edinburgh Council
  • Clackmannanshire Council
  • Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
  • Dumfries and Galloway Council
  • Dundee City Council
  • East Renfrewshire Council
  • Falkirk Council
  • Fife Council
  • Glasgow City Council
  • Midlothian Council
  • Moray Council
  • North Ayrshire Council
  • North Lanarkshire Council
  • Orkney Islands Council
  • Renfrewshire Council
  • South Ayrshire Council
  • South Lanarkshire Council
  • The Highland Council
  • West Dunbartonshire Council
  • West Lothian Council

What has happened so far?

The network of PSDOs, supported by the National Education Officer for Primary Science, has helped to build the capacity and confidence of practitioners. This has led to innovative approaches and supported the embedding of STEM within the curriculum, and engaging pupils in meaningful ways. The programme has also created strong networks and partnerships, engaging a range of organisations and STEM providers. A range of case studies, reports, and statistics relating to the programme’s impact are available below.

In addition, the RAiSE network has collaborated to produce a national Science planning resource for Early to Second Level. This resource supports planning for science around the experiences and outcomes from Early to Second Level. Each plan contains links to other curricular areas and contexts to support interdisciplinary learning. In addition, ‘how to’ videos have been included to help practitioners engage with some of the suggested activities. These will continue to be added to over time.

Programme statistics

  • number of practitioner engagements: 29,999
  • number of establishment engagements: 12,004
  • number of cluster engagements in RAiSE activities: 2,173
  • number of RAiSE CLPL events: 2,716
  • cumulative RAiSE programme practitioner CLPL hours: 70,529

Case studies

PDF file: Rosie Revere Engineer project (417 KB) The Rosie Revere, Engineer project is a series of engineering lessons inspired by a popular children’s storybook. It aligns with a number of E and Os in technologies for early and second level primary school pupils.

PDF file: Family science clubs pilot (740 KB) This case study will be of interest to practitioners who are looking at different ways of engaging families across the school.

PDF file: Engineering and tools through loose parts play (921 KB) This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are keen to support young people explore the links between loose parts and the engineering design process.

PDF file: Orkney Builders Case Study (1.2 MB) This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are considering approaches to introducing and developing tool use within the classroom and exploring local business input.

PDF file: Pondering Pond Life Case Study (775 KB) This case study will be of interest to practitioners who are keen to support young people in understanding the scientific method through a contextualised, engaging learning opportunity.

PDF file: STEM Hub Case Study (2.9 MB) This case study will be of interest to settings looking to set up a STEM Hub or area. It will illustrate an approach to developing skills experiences linked to STEM.

PDF file: Science Stories Case Study (1.3 MB) - This case study considers how pupils could more effectively recount their science investigation and lesson outcomes through stories or a child-led creative output, rather than writing a standard science report.

PDF file: Improving Pedagogy in STEM (1.4 MB) - This case study will be of interest to practitioners and Senior Leadership Teams in the primary sector.

PDF file: Linking Developing the Young Workforce and STEM (1.0 MB) - This will be of interest to all practitioners, STEM leads in school, and those establishments keen to forge STEM partnerships.

PDF file: Developing approaches to transition using Astrobiology (1.0 MB) - This case study will be of interest to primary and secondary school leaders, curriculum leaders, upper primary practitioners, secondary science teachers and university partners.

PDF file: Developing Primary STEM leaders (1.5 MB) - This case study is for practitioners and Senior Leadership Teams in the primary sector.

PDF file: Developing Parental Engagement (1.3 MB) - This case study will be of interest to primary practitioners who are considering approaches to developing parental engagement in their setting.

Reports

For more information, contact Laura McCafferty, National Education Officer for RAiSE: laura.mccafferty@educationscotland.gov.scot

Termly newsletter

Autumn 2023

PDF file: RAiSE newsletter (1.6 MB)

August 2023

PDF file: RAiSE newsletter (2 MB)

Good news stories