Improving science and engineering education starts with supporting the teachers who inspire young people in the classroom. A featured story in The University of Manchester’s Research impact, shaped together campaign shows how the Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH) is working with schools, teachers, researchers and partners to strengthen science and engineering education for children aged 5 to 14. 

The SEERIH initiative involves working directly with teachers, schools, local authorities, researchers and industry partners to improve classroom practice through long-term professional learning. Rather than sharing research from a distance, the team works alongside teachers through subject leader networks, mentoring programmes and co-designed projects that run over months and sometimes years. Teachers help shape research questions, test ideas in classrooms and feed evidence back into future programme design. 

This approach has delivered more than 40,000 hours of training and supported more than 1,000 science subject leaders, helping to build teacher confidence, skills and continuity. As Professor Lynne Bianchi explains, “Scientists brought ambition, teachers brought reality and together they found a way forward.” 

The impact is also reaching beyond the UK. The SEERIH team’s Great Science Share for Schools programme has secured UNESCO National Patronage for a third year in 2026, with more than 830,000 young people in 50 countries registering to ask, investigate and share science. The team also continues to contribute evidence to teacher development strategy and national curriculum reform, showing how Manchester research supports better learning, stronger partnerships and long-term social impact. 

• Learn more: Read the full case study and watch the accompanying film here.