Partnership Grant Programme for UK Schools and Colleges

The Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme funds schools and colleges up to £3,000 to deliver an investigative STEM project in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry. The application process is completed through Flexi-Grant®. The Partnership Grants annual round opens in February and has three possible submission deadlines, with the final close date on 30  November 2026. Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: The Royal Society

- Opportunity name: Partnership Grants

- Opportunity type: Grant scheme supporting school/college STEM projects with partner involvement

- Funding level: Up to £3,000 per project (amount stated in source as a maximum)

- Eligible applicants (primary): Schools and colleges supporting ages 5–18

- Eligible locations: UK-based schools and colleges (location details are not specified beyond UK community context in the source; confirm in official guidance)

- Status: Open (as stated in the source)

- Deadline (close date): 01 December 2026

- Application submission deadlines (three possible across the year): - 30 April 2026 - 10 July 2026 - 30 November 2026 - Project start timing (based on deadline): Projects can start Autumn term (October onwards), Spring term (January onwards), or Summer term (May onwards) depending on the submission deadline (see “Stage outcomes” below)

- Notification timing: Applicants are informed within three months of the submission deadline

- Application system: Flexi-Grant® (applications cannot be accepted via email)

About the Opportunity

The Partnership Grants scheme supports investigative STEM projects delivered by schools and colleges working in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry. The aim is to help students investigate STEM topics through structured project work, with partner engagement throughout the project lifetime. The scheme includes an application process with two stages to check eligibility and capture project and budget details. Funding and Benefits

- Grant amount: Schools and colleges can receive up to £3,000 for an investigative STEM project.

- Budget requirements:

- Stage 1: A full itemised budget is not required.

- Stage 2: An itemised budget is required.

- Timing of funding (if successful): Grant projects may be able to start 2–3 months after the decision, with 4–6 months total between application and funds being received (this timing can vary based on agreements and payments being arranged). The source does not specify other benefits, cost-sharing rules, or restrictions beyond the details listed above. Applicants should consult the official Partnership Grants guidance for any further financial rules. Who Is Eligible? Who can apply - Schools and colleges supporting ages 5–18 may apply. Who can start and submit the application - Applications must be started by someone in the school or college applying for the funding (if successful, it is the applying organisation that receives the grant payment). - Once the application is started, the applicant can invite the lead STEM partner to contribute to the form. Priority (not a strict eligibility rule, per source wording) - The source states that priority is given to: - schools that are new to the scheme, and - schools with the greatest need. The exact selection method for “greatest need” is not specified in the source. STEM partner requirements (high level) - The lead STEM partner must meet eligibility criteria described on the Royal Society’s eligibility page (the source points to this but does not reproduce the criteria here). - Education outreach or public engagement personnel cannot be the lead STEM partner, but they could support facilitation of a group of STEM partners. Exclusions / limitations mentioned - Applications cannot be accepted via email. - The application is for a specific project, not a series of unrelated experiments (see “Can we run lots of separate experiments under one grant?” in FAQs below). Eligible Activities or Priority Areas

- Supported activity: Investigative STEM projects delivered by schools/colleges in partnership with a lead STEM professional from academia or industry.

- Projects must have a clear project title (required to be a question) and structured activities where students investigate STEM topics. The source does not provide a formal thematic list (e.g., specific science disciplines) for eligible activities; it focuses on the project structure and STEM partnership model. Why This Opportunity Matters This grant is designed for schools and colleges seeking to strengthen student engagement with STEM through an investigative, partnership-led project approach. By requiring (at Stage 2) a lead STEM partner’s confirmation and head teacher/principal approval, the scheme emphasizes credible STEM involvement rather than standalone activities. It also uses a planning-focused application process (Stage 1 checks, then Stage 2 details and budget), which can help applicants structure projects ahead of the term they plan to deliver. How to Apply - Start your application in Flexi-Grant® - The source states that the Partnership Grant application process is completed through Flexi-Grant®. - Applications cannot be accepted via email. - Complete Stage 1 (basic eligibility information) - Stage 1 covers school/college details, lead STEM partner details, and initial project information. - A full itemised budget and full project timeline are not required at Stage 1. - Stage 1 submissions undergo short eligibility checks; if not eligible, applicants may be sent guidance to edit and resubmit. - Complete Stage 2 (project plan, budget, and confirmations) - Stage 2 requires more detail, including: - the submission deadline you are targeting, - the term the project will start, - how many terms it will run for, - project plan details (including how students will be selected and how the STEM partner will be involved), - an itemised budget, and - additional required staffing and legacy information. - Stage 2 must be countersigned by: - th