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educators celebrated award winners at PSTT annual College Conference

Our History

Since 1997, we have been helping to shape and strengthen primary science education across the UK.

Our beginnings, 1997–1999

PSTT’s story began in 1997, when the pharmaceutical company Zeneca established the Zeneca Science Teaching Trust as an independent charity with a £20 million trust fund.

While much of the investment in science education at the time focused on secondary schools and universities, the Trust chose to emphasise primary education and developing the confidence and competence of primary teachers.

Following the merger of Zeneca and Astra AB in 1999, the organisation became the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust (AZSTT).

delegates arriving at the 2026 College Conference in Birmingham beside a large illuminated welcome sign

Investing in science education, 2000–2009

Throughout the 2000s, the Trust invested in projects to strengthen science teaching and developed primary science resources and CPD for teachers.

By 2001, more than £1.8 million had been invested in primary science, with a further £1.5 million invested in primary and transition projects between 2002 and 2007. Resources including Thinking Science and Floorbooks became particularly popular with teachers.

In 2007, the Trust expanded its project funding to include Key Stage 3, investing around £500,000 a year in science education projects.

A renewed focus on primary science, 2010–2015

In 2010, the Trust changed direction, ending its annual grant rounds and refocusing its funding exclusively on primary science. Two years later, this new focus was reflected in a change of name to the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT).

The decade saw significant growth in PSTT’s programmes and resources. I Can Explain! was launched in 2014 and shared with more than 100 schools, while the Cluster Programme launched in 2015 with 10 local clusters of schools across the UK. By the end of that year, the Primary Science Teacher College had 150 Fellows and more than £10 million had been invested in science education.

PSTT also established a trading arm in 2014 to develop and distribute teacher-created resources. By 2019, this had produced 10 commercial resources alongside a wide range of freely available materials.

Growing our reach, 2016–2019

During this period, PSTT expanded significantly. We appointed our first Regional Mentors to direct support to schools, and continued to develop our resources and professional learning opportunities.

This growing reach was also reflected in our international work. In 2016 and 2019, we hosted the International Primary Science Education Conference in Belfast and Glasgow, bringing together primary science educators from across the UK and beyond.

PSTT today, 2020–present

The launch of our 2023 strategy marked the next chapter in PSTT’s development. Today, we support teachers, schools and children across the UK through professional learning, resources, partnerships and networks. Building on almost three decades of experience, we continue to work towards our vision of excellent primary science education for every child.

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