Big Science Event 2026
in collaboration with the Great Science Share for Schools
Save the date – 16th June 2026
Register by 20th March 2026
Science Oxford’s Big Science Event has been running since 2010 and engaged over 130,000 pupils in asking and answering their own scientific questions.
In 2026, we are delighted to be partnering again with the Great Science Share for Schools initiative to engage pupils in primary schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to conduct pupil-led scientific enquiries and to take part in great science share events.
Would you like to:
- inspire young people about science and engineering?
- increase your confidence in facilitating pupil-led enquiry at your school, enabling children to effectively ask and answer scientific questions?
- see your pupils sharing their science with new audiences in an inclusive and non-competitive environment?
- raise the profile of school science?
Want to know more?
In the latest special edition of The Association for Science Education Primary Science Journal, The Oxford Trust’s Director of Science Education and Engagement Francesca MacLennan reflects on the goals and value of Big Science Event run in collaboration with Great Science Share for Schools. Read this and more about the Great Science Share for Schools in the free-to-access journal.
Read here
Join us and register now!
What impact on young people does the Great Science Share for Schools have?
Their latest Impact-Ed report shows pupils participating in GSSfS scored 6% higher for resilience and were more likely to engage in reflexive, self-questioning behaviour during their learning process. Outcomes were relatively even across male and female pupils and across socio-economic groups.
How to take part
1. Register for the Big Science Event
When you register, you’ll also have the option to:
a. Enter the draw to bring a team of pupils to the Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre on 16th June 2026 (Read below for more information about the draw. The draw is only open to primary schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.)
Entries into the draw close on 20th March 2026.
b. If you’re a member school, request a STEM Champion to attend a science share event in your school.
Our Science Oxford team will get in touch to support your plans and share further resource ideas. We’ll add your school’s name to our Big Science Event webpage to showcase the growing community of schools participating.
Note: If you have any problem clicking through to our registration form from the button above, please copy and paste the following address directly into your browser: https://2ep1ds.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2ZbvL8liqSsCZTbXiTJGhtg.
2. Register with the Great Science Share for Schools.
Access and benefit from additional online resources to help you kick-start your pupil-led enquiries in school.
The Great Science Share for Schools recommends to “Ask in Autumn – Investigate in Spring – Share in Summer”, so now is the time to get started!
3. Get more insight into how to take part
Register to join us for an online twilight CPD session, ‘Pupil-led enquiry’, on 12th January 2026, where you’ll:
- Discover practical approaches to spark and support pupil-led enquiry
- Learn effective techniques for facilitating pupil-led enquiry
4. Get started now
Ask in Autumn
Tell us what your pupils will be investigating. We would love to hear from you. The questions you submit may appear on our website to showcase the curiosity of those taking part, and to inspire others to ask their own questions.
Investigate in Spring
Your pupils’ chosen investigations could be part of your school science week, science club, science lesson, or a homework project.
Watch a short film with children from Barton Park Primary School telling us about their investigation.
Share in Summer
Choose the type of science share event you would like to be involved in on or around the Great Science Share on the 16th June 2026. You could join us at the Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre or plan a science share event in your school.
Share and celebrate your enquiries with…
The Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre
When you register, enter the draw for a chance to be invited to the Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre on 16th June 2026. Chosen through a draw, teams of six pupils from 15 schools will be invited to share their scientific enquiry with pupils from other schools and with STEM professionals in our special science share event. The day will include other exciting, hands-on STEM activities too! (T&Cs below)
A science share event at your school
Run your own science share event at your school or arrange a collaborative event with partnership schools. Invite STEM champions – school governors, parents working in the STEM sector, local business representatives or others. If your school is a member of Science Oxford, you can request a Science Oxford STEM champion to visit your school when you register. We’ll aim to visit as many school events as possible, subject to availability.
5. Tell us more about your plans
We would love to hear about your pupils’ investigations, especially in the run up to the 16th June 2026, so share details of your investigations or science share events via your social channels, tagging @scienceoxford and using the hashtag #BigScienceEvent and #GSSfS2026, or send an email to [email protected].