Building Bridges

The Building Bridges project aims to build science capital and identity, and an understanding of the utility of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Maths (S.T.E.A.M.), with particular regard to chemistry, within a diverse range of careers.

The priorities are to:

• Offer an enrichment programme of activities and days which support and extend the KS2 and KS3 curriculum, and is localised to the students’ home area.
• Provide of free-of-charge kit boxes (OXbOXes), training and documentation to support the teaching of the primary science curriculum.
• Highlight the diverse career opportunities available in S.T.E.A.M., particularly relating to the chemical sciences.
• Support practical science and mathematics in Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.

The Building Bridges Partnership Project aims to boost students’ motivation, engagement and academic belonging, supporting the transition between primary and secondary science education. The project is a partnershipbetween the University of Oxford’s Departments, Colleges, Gardens, Libraries and Museums, other Higher Education and third sector providers.

The project works directly with ‘hub’ secondary schools that have established links to primary schools in their local area. We prioritise working in areas with primary schools which have Free School Meal (FSM) percentages higher than their regional average. ‘Hub’ secondary schools take care of a set of science kit boxes (OXbOXes) - these kits support primary science curriculum teaching. Primary schools can borrow kits from the ‘hub’ school to support their teaching; all resources and training to use the kits is included.

In addition, selected schools may include an enrichment strand in their programme, which offers a sustained contact programme of activities and events on a specific theme in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths). Themes include:

‘Green Planet’ explores the incredible use of plants as food, sources of medicines, toxins, and energy;

‘Into the Blue’ allows students to discover how light is used in both art and science and examine the origins and use of the colour blue by humans across cultures and through history to the present day.

New for 2024-2026, 'Symmetry in Our World' investigates how patterns and symmetry underlie our natural world and its chemistry.

Through the OXbOXes and the S.T.E.A.M. themes, students on the Building Bridges programme view the wide range of applications of S.T.E.A.M., with particular focus on chemistry. Students are introduced to a diverse range of careers throughout their programme, as well as meeting researchers and staff on visits. Collectively, these activities and events are designed to build science capital and identity so that students feel confident engaging with further S.T.E.A.M. opportunities.

Following a successful pilot phase (2022-2024) in Gloucester, we are excited to be working with our partner colleges to expand the Building Bridges project to new areas of the UK in 2024-2026!

The OXbOXes are free-of-charge kit boxes which support the teaching of the primary science curriculum. As well as all the kit and consumables needed to carry out science experiments and activities, the kit boxes include training for primary teachers to help them deliver the activities confidently.

There are currently two OXbOXes in use in schools, with a further two being developed and trialed in 2024. Each box is designed to support the teaching of a topic which is included in the primary science curriculum for Years 3 to 6:

1. ChembOX (Year 5, solutions)
2. EarthbOX (Year 3, rocks)
3. BOX of Sparks (Year 4/6, electricity) – (in trial Jan 2024)
4. BOX of Stuff (Year 4/5, states of matter) – (anticipated launch May 2024)

We are interested in expanding the range of OXbOXes we offer, and would love to hear from any interested organisations, both internal and external to the University of Oxford.

In addition to OXbOXes, we work with selected 'hub' and 'spoke' state schools to offer an enrichment strand to their pupils: a programme of events centered on a particular theme, which includes ‘Bridge Activities’, in-school visits and Oxford visit days.

These activities and events enrich curriculum learning by introducing a specific S.T.E.A.M. theme and examining it from a range of perspectives, as well as showcasing a diversity of careers.

Each theme is developed with researchers and experts from our partnership and supporting organisations.

The Building Bridges project incorporates opportunities and activities in both the OXbOXes and Enrichment strands for participating students to learn about S.T.E.A.M. careers and research.

Our researchers contribute to the development and delivery of 'Bridge' activities in the themes, while students engage directly through our 'Meet the Researchers' sessions during their in-bound visits to Oxford.

We are grateful to all Principal Investigators and participating researchers who have supported and contributed to the development and/or delivery of our work.

We are indebted to the organisations listed above for their generous support.

The Building Bridges project aims to build science capital and identity, and an understanding of the utility of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Maths (S.T.E.A.M.), with particular regard to chemistry, within a diverse range of careers.

The priorities are to:

• Offer an enrichment programme of activities and days which support and extend the KS2 and KS3 curriculum, and is localised to the students’ home area.
• Provide of free-of-charge kit boxes (OXbOXes), training and documentation to support the teaching of the primary science curriculum.
• Highlight the diverse career opportunities available in S.T.E.A.M., particularly relating to the chemical sciences.
• Support practical science and mathematics in Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.

If you share these priorities and would like to make a financial gift or an in-kind contribution, we would be glad to hear from you.