Application for the 2011 kick-start fund is now open.

For National Science and Engineering Week 2011, BIS (Department for Business Innovation and Skills) are providing funds for a number of schools in challenging circumstances to organise their own science and engineering events as part of the Week.

Teachers report that science and engineering enrichment activity helps to motivate children and supports their learning and development - as well as being fun!  With easy-to-use resources and a little funding for materials, this kick-start fund aims to attract teachers and schools in to NSEW who would otherwise find it difficult to take part.

The aim of the National Science and Engineering Week kick-start fund for schools, as set by BIS, is to widen access to science, engineering and technology activities to schools in challenging circumstances.

Eligible schools must either:
• have a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals†
• have a high proportion of pupils who are from black or minority ethnic backgrounds*
• be a small school based in a remote and rural location

†  A high proportion is considered to be over 30%
*  A high proportion is considered to be over 30%
 Remote and rural schools are considered to be a settlement of less than 10,000 people with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more.

The fund is open to any state school within the UK and schools must fall into at least one or more of the eligibility criteria.  Priority will be given to schools that either meet more than one of the criteria or can provide a strong case for falling well within a single criterion.

In order to distribute the fund to as many deserving schools as possible, the award for all successful applicants has been set at £200. 

Please read the full details before applying for the kick-start fund.

If you have any questions regarding the application procedure for 2011 or any aspect of the NSEW kick-start fund please contact Natalie Broadhurst.