New £30 million investment to 'enthuse' the next generation of scientists
The Wellcome Trust today announces a new £30 million partnership between the private, public and charitable sectors to offer much needed training to science teachers enabling the UK to produce the next generation of world class scientists.
The project, entitled 'Project ENTHUSE', will receive a £10 million investment from the Government over the next five years, with a further £10 million from the Wellcome Trust and up to £10 million from business partners including: AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust, BAE Systems, BP, General Electric, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls-Royce.
Recent research shows that approximately 50 per cent of all secondary school science teachers have had no subject knowledge-related continuing professional development (CPD) in the past five years (' Believers, Seekers and Sceptics', Wellcome Trust, January 2006). CPD linked to subject and teaching skills is highly valued by teachers as is the desire for new subject knowledge, particularly in science.
Over 4,000 science teachers throughout the UK have already taken advantage of the world-class teaching and training resources at the National Science Learning Centre. This new injection of funding will extend the experience to state schools throughout the country.
Through Project ENTHUSE, bursaries will become available for teachers to attend courses at the National Science Learning Centre. This initiative provides an excellent example of business, Government and education working together to support new professionalism in teaching.
In today's Budget Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling included an announcement of the project:
"I can announce today that we will commit £10 million over the next five years, which alongside contributions from the Wellcome Trust and private sector will create a £30 million Enthuse Science fund.
"This will give every science teacher in secondary and further education access to high quality professional development helping improve the science offer to today's children."
Sir William Castell, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, said: "The world's challenges will be met through an increasing reliance on science. To further improve schools' performance in science we have formed a unique partnership between business, Government and the Wellcome Trust. Project ENTHUSE, initially funded by the partners with £30 million, is designed to retool our teachers through a programme of professional development in science underpinned by industrial experience. With this investment we will be able to touch the teaching of science in all our state schools in the UK and thereby excite, motivate and enthuse the young people of our nation."
John Patterson, Executive Director for Development at AstraZeneca, said: "Many of my colleagues at AstraZeneca were inspired to embark on a career in science by great teachers. We hope that the learning and development opportunities offered by project ENTHUSE will help teachers to achieve their full potential and give them confidence to meet the challenge of inspiring tomorrow's scientists."
Mike Turner, Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems, said: "The continuing decline in the number of science, engineering and technology graduates is a real threat to the future competitiveness of the UK's industrial sector. BAE Systems is proud to play its part in helping our science teachers inspire young people to be the engineers of the future."
Peter Mather, BP Head of Country UK, comments: "BP is delighted to be a founding supporter of Project ENTHUSE. We believe that business has an important role to play in education by inspiring teachers and inspiring students, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We look forward to helping Project ENTHUSE to make a significant impact on the teaching of science to young people across the nation."
Andrew Witty, CEO designate, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "Project ENTHUSE is a great example of partnership between the private, public and charitable sectors to resolve an issue of significance to us all. Together we will enable science teachers to participate in training to keep their skills current, allowing them to continue to inspire the next generation of scientists and science teachers. GSK is proud to support this excellent initiative."
Tom Brown, Director of Human Resources at Rolls-Royce plc, said: "It is vitally important to the future of the UK economy that the science and engineering skills base is strengthened. By supporting science teachers to foster enthusiasm for these subjects, we believe we can help encourage young people to take up careers in science and engineering."
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $29.55 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US$ $31.4 billion) in 2007.
BP
BP is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, serving millions of customers every day in more than 100 countries across six continents. BP's activities are Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Alternative Energy, its low-carbon energy business. Through these business, BP provides fuel for transportation; energy for heat and light; retail services; and petrochemicals products for textiles and packaging.
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline's community investments were valued at £282 million (the equivalent to almost 4 per cent of pre-tax profits) and targeted health and education programmes in almost 100 countries. GSK has a long-standing commitment to supporting science education with programmes which aim to engage children in science, giving them the knowledge and understanding to become scientists and to make sound decisions about the science issues they meet in everyday life.
The National Science Learning Centre
The National Science Learning Centre provides innovative and inspirational professional development for science teachers and technicians from across the UK.
The £11million purpose built centre, situated at the University of York, is funded by independent biomedical research charity, the Wellcome Trust, which has committed £25million to fund the Centre over ten years.
The National Science Learning Centre is part of a network of ten Science Learning Centres, which is a joint initiative by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Wellcome Trust.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has over the last ten years established a strong position in fast growing global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy. At the end of November 2007 Rolls-Royce employed around 39,500 people in 50 countries.
About the Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is the largest charity in the UK. It funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending around £650 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. The Wellcome Trust supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing.