National Grid : offers schools in Canterbury and Richborough funding for science equipment

31 Jan 2018

• Grants of up to £1,000 are available for new science, engineering and technology equipment.
• Primary and secondary schools in the Richborough and Canterbury area have until 29 March 2018 to apply.
• This scheme will help to support the teaching of STEM subjects to school children in the local community.

National Grid is calling on all primary and secondary schools in the Richborough and Canterbury area to apply for a grant before the application deadline at midnight on 29 March 2018.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to schools, near to where we are building our new overhead line connection between Canterbury and Richborough, for new science, engineering and technology equipment.

The deadline for submitting applications is midnight on 29 March 2018 and schools can apply via National Grid's grant website at betl.nationalgrid.com/application-process. The scheme is open to state-funded primary and secondary schools only.

Additional money is also available for schools with a high proportion of children from socially deprived backgrounds. Schools wishing to receive the funding will need to demonstrate how the grant will be used to support its pupils.

National Grid, is working in Kent and across the country to promote STEM subjects and engineering as a career to young people in order to address a skills deficit in the industry.

The funding is one of three education schemes which National Grid has launched in the Canterbury area. This includes National Grid's engineering challenge and scholarships initiative which offers a series of workshops, clubs and activities. Pupils also get the chance to take part in a residential work experience course. The other is training for primary school teachers on the principles of DC electricity.

Commenting on the scheme, Graham Dolamore, project director for the Richborough Connection project said:

'This funding is a great opportunity for schools to get hold of new science and technology equipment which will help to boost pupils' interest and understanding of STEM subjects. We encourage all eligible schools in the local area to apply as soon as possible, before the deadline at the end of March'.

Ann Campling, Headteacher at Wickhambreaux C of E Primary School who received one of our recent grants, said:

'We received an £850 grant and have purchased the Mindstorms kits for our STEM club. The kits are a vital link in the learning started last term in robotics and are enabling us to make the next step. We are a small school and this grant has made a significant contribution to the STEM learning and although there are only a few kits bought, due to their expensive nature, the children are learning skills that can be cascaded through the school. The kits will be well used and contribute as a basic tool in our STEM programme.'

Other schools which have so far received one of our grants include Barham C of E Primary School,Hersden Village Primary School and St Nicholas at Wade CEP School.