Launch your course

Pilot project

Join the the Practising Science pilot project, innovate your science curriculum, and help to shape the future of science education in the UK. Supported by Mastery Science and Pearson, you'll receive comprehensive support to implement the new course and help your students excel in their HPQs. The pilot also includes externally-funded research to discover whether the course leads to greater uptake of post-16 science or engineering, to help us to spread the course more widely.

Support

We want all teachers to feel confident and well-prepared to teach this innovative course effectively. Support for schools in the Practising Science pilot consists of free access to:

  • a scheme of work for the teaching and project elements
  • year 10 teaching resources - case studies -
  • year 10 guided projects with a set of ready-to go curriculum resources
  • induction and professional development sessions (online and face-to-face)
  • a point of contact for ongoing assistance

Your involvement

To receive all the benefits of being in the pilot project your school will need to agree to:

  • Run the Practising Science course over two years
  • Provide approximately the recommended number of guided learning hours, most likely by creating the course as a GCSE option
  • Provide data for the impact research for the ‘treatment group’ of students taking the Practising Science course, and the ‘control group’ of Combined Science students who are not taking the course

Data: start of the course

  • Give students the provided baseline survey on science interest, identity, and career awareness.
  • Send us data on students' previous science attainment, such as a year 9 science exam, or conduct a science progress test we provide

Data: during the course (if selected for sampling):

  • Allow a visit from our team, with a teacher questionnaire and interview
  • Give students a follow-up survey and enable us to run a focus group

Data: end of the course:

  • Send us data on students’ post-16 subject choices, and mock exam grades

Our research partner at the Open University will carry out an ethical review and provide consent forms for teachers, students, and parents.

Timetable

The pilot project is divided into phases:

  • Nov-Dec 2024 Join pilot project
  • Jan-Mar 2025: Recruit a GCSE set for the course
  • Apr-Jul 2025: Prepare for the course
  • Aug 2025-Jul 2026: First year of the course

Learn more

Project-Based Science GCSE Course design and benefits

HPQ  Qualification requirements and assessment

Teaching Element Scheme of work, pedagogy and resources

Projects Element Ready-to-go projects in science and engineering

Launch your course  Support for pilot schools and how to apply