Academic year
2026-27
Programme definitions can be shared between schools, while each school controls whether and how it is delivered locally.
MSC Programme
Practical STEM Projects
Hands-on and applied Science, Maths and Computing projects that turn subject knowledge into a product, model, decision or tested solution.
Overview
What this programme is for
Practical STEM Projects are a reusable MSC delivery model in which subject knowledge is applied through a product, model, decision, design or tested solution. Students are expected to make their thinking visible and improve their work using evidence or constraints.
Relationship to the curriculum
The central Year 7-9 curriculum already contains practical subject projects. This programme model also describes how schools can deliver additional practical MSC work while keeping curriculum expectations consistent.
Delivery model
How the programme can work
01
Start with a clear subject problem, challenge or existing solution.
02
Require students to make justified decisions using subject knowledge and visible evidence.
03
Build in testing, feedback, adaptation or validation before the final outcome is submitted.
Outcomes
What it is designed to develop
- Practical application of subject knowledge.
- Purposeful testing and improvement.
- Evidence-based explanation.
- Teamwork and communication.
Adaptation
What schools can change
- Materials and context can be adapted to what a school can realistically access.
- The practical format can vary by subject and year group.
- Adaptation should preserve the intended subject knowledge, reasoning and evidence rather than reducing a task to decoration.
Curriculum links
Connected learning
Schools