‘Bridging the Gap: Inspiring Primary School Children through the Children Challenging Industry Programme’, featured in the Journal of Emergent Science (April 2025), and was written by Havva Gorkem Altunbas (Research Associate) and Joy Parvin (Director of CIEC). It explores the impact of the Children Challenging Industry (CCI) programme in enhancing primary science education and fostering early interest in STEM careers.
Overview of the CCI Programme
CCI is a highly respected programme across the country. Developed by the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) at the University of York, the CCI programme integrates classroom science lessons with real-world industrial experiences. Expert advisory teachers lead curriculum-aligned science lessons, which are complemented by visits to local science-based industries. These visits allow students to engage directly with professionals, observe scientific applications in real-world settings, and present their own investigations to industry experts. Indeed, the children at the school where I work have enjoyed taking part over the last three years and find it engaging, informative and enlightening.
About CIEC
The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) is a nationally recognised organisation, based at the University of York and dedicated to building strong partnerships between science education and industry. CIEC develops high-quality, research-informed resources and programmes aimed at supporting primary and secondary science education. Through initiatives like Children Challenging Industry, CIEC works to ensure that science is taught in a way that is both exciting and relevant, while also helping young people understand the diverse career pathways available in the science and engineering sectors- as well as local opportunities and professions more widely available. The organisation plays a crucial role in connecting schools with industry, fostering a shared responsibility for inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The Importance of Early Exposure to Careers Education
The article emphasises that introducing children to career possibilities at a young age is vital in shaping their aspirations and self-belief. Early careers education, particularly when linked to engaging and relevant subjects like science, helps children form positive perceptions of future job roles and understand the real-world relevance of their learning. It can also challenge stereotypes and broaden their understanding of who can work in scientific and technical fields, which is especially important for pupils from underrepresented groups. By embedding careers awareness in primary education, programmes like CCI help build foundational attitudes and aspirations that can influence future educational choices.
Key Findings and Impact
The article highlights several significant outcomes of the CCI programme:
- Enhanced Student Engagement: Students participating in the programme exhibit increased enthusiasm and curiosity towards science, often expressing a newfound interest in pursuing science-related careers.
- Improved Teacher Confidence: Teachers involved in the programme report greater confidence in delivering science lessons, attributing this to the support and resources provided by the CCI advisory teachers. This is vital in ensuring more pupils engage in STEM subjects and subsequently take up STEM careers in the future.
- Positive Perception of Industry: Exposure to real-world scientific environments helps demystify the industry for students, making science careers seem more accessible and appealing.
Conclusion
The Children Challenging Industry programme effectively bridges the gap between classroom science education and the practical applications of science in industry. By providing students with hands-on experiences and direct interaction with science professionals, the programme not only enriches the science curriculum but also plays a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, and also dispels stereotypically gendered misconceptions. Through working with apprenticeship providers such as CATCH UK, CIEC are really supporting students in understanding options available and encouraging the workforce of the future into those roles/apprenticeship places, as well as enhancing teacher confidence and pedagogy which also directly develops pupil engagement.
Centre for Industry Education Collaboration, University of York
STEM Learning also provides a wealth of support and resources for teachers relating to STEM subjects, careers learning and developing teacher confidence- these really complement projects and opportunities such as CCI. In addition, SEERIH (University of Manchester) also offer a wealth of STEM resources, lesson plans and links to a wide range of STEM professionals.
STEM support for primary teachers
Destination STEM
STEM Ambassadors
Resources - Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH) - The University of Manchester