Purpose and vision

The Great Science Share for Schools is a campaign for everyone to involve young people from 5-14 years in asking, investigating and sharing a scientific question they care about.

It places young people at the heart of the communication of science to each other.

GSSfS is relevant to all teachers and educators working with young people, in whatever educational setting, any where across the world.

3 simple values provide the foundations to all campaign activity:

Learner-focused science communication
Inclusive and non-competitive engagement
Promotes collaboration on many levels

The GSSfS concept is simple and transferable. Young people decide on a scientific question they care about. They develop skills and knowledge to work scientifically, gathering evidence from investigations and draw conclusions. They share their learning with new audiences in a range of communication styles.

GSSfS primarily supports teachers and educators in their endeavour to raise the profile and quality of science enquiry in schools and communities.

With the young people being the communicators, this is unique way to gauge the impact of science learning and to enhance experiences in to increase agency and involvement in science enquiry.

With the status of school science in the UK lower than other core curriculum subjects. Teachers have reported that GSSfS leads to:

more time for science learning in school and at home
more open-ended opportunities led by young people asking, investigating and communicating their own scientific questions
more involvement from different audiences who may not traditionally engage with science
more focus on real-world issues aligned to global sustainability within a curriculum, mainstream context.

First launched as part of the European City of Science in 2016, the campaign grew from strong roots in SEERIH’s children-to-children’s science conferences.

Since then, the initiative has continued to grow in size, importance and overall impact at a international level. GSSfS was awarded patronage of the UK National Commission for UNESCO for 2024 and 2025.

"We're delighted and humbled to continue to gain such fantastic support from UNESCO. Their patronage has taken the campaign up a level and working collaboratively with them across the EU is leading to strategic collaborations. This ultimately means more 5-14 year olds getting more quality opportunities to work scientifically - a crucial skill for all young people, wherever they are!"

Professor Lynne Bianchi, GSSfS campaign Director

What impact on young people does the Great Science Share for Schools have?

Increased enthusiasm, excitement and interest in learning science as a subject.
Pupils are given opportunities to lead, choose and be at the forefront of science investigations.
Pupils having a desire to ‘do more science’.
Improved standards of science questions and answers.
Pupils’ general confidence building – of science specifically but also as a life skill. And in addition, a realisation that ‘science is everywhere’ in our lives.
Confidence building and network generation for teachers.
Pupils are learning an appreciation that science is more than just the investigations they do in class.
GSSfS pupils have scored substantially higher than comparison in mathematical problem solving and creativity aspects of openness, and the academic persistence elements of resilience.