Here's a quick summary of what secondary schools in Hertfordshire have successfully bid for so far in the spring term of the 2025/26 academic year. Each academic year, secondary schools can be granted two awards of up to £1500 (each) in two different focus areas (PE, STEM and Learning to Learn) subject to our remaining monthly budget (the current balance is displayed on the application form page). Applications have to pass our criteria which you can find here.
We wish all the award recipients good luck with their amazing projects and we are very pleased to have helped them "achieve a lot with a little".
| School | Location | Focus | Project |
| Parmiter's | Watford | PE | 50 athletics vests and 26 gymnastics leotards for students in Years 7–13 will support the school’s expanding PE and co-curricular sports programme. These items will be used by pupils representing the school in athletics, cross country, gymnastics, dance, and trampolining, with around 300 students benefiting each year and participation continuing to grow. Updating the athletics vests will ensure all competitors can represent the school consistently and confidently at district, county, regional, and national events, strengthening team identity and pride. Providing appropriate leotards will enable gymnasts to take part fully in performances and competitions where specialist attire is required, supporting professionalism and equality. Together, the new kits will promote inclusion, confidence, and belonging, reinforce high standards when representing the school, and underpin the continued success and development of Parmiter’s strong sporting provision. |
| Parmiter's | Watford | STEM | 12 Casio FX-CG100 advanced colour graphic calculators will support teaching and learning across all A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics classes in Years 12 and 13. The calculators will be used in Pure Mathematics, Statistics, and Mechanics to visualise functions, explore graphs and data dynamically, and carry out complex calculations efficiently. This will help students better understand abstract concepts, check solutions independently, and focus more on reasoning and problem-solving rather than manual computation. Lower-attaining or less confident students will benefit from reduced cognitive load and clearer visualisation, while higher-attaining students will be able to investigate more sophisticated problems in greater depth. Teachers will be able to integrate technology consistently across 14 teaching groups, modernising post-16 mathematics provision. Overall, the calculators will increase engagement, confidence, and attainment, while preparing students more effectively for A Level assessments, further study, and future STEM pathways. |
| Barclay | Stevenage | STEM | Fifteen UNILAB Retro DC lockable power units that will significantly improve access to hands-on practical science across physics and chemistry at Barclay Academy. These power packs are essential for delivering core curriculum experiments involving electricity, circuits, energy transfer, electrolysis and electroplating, from Year 7 through to post-16 study. Increasing the number of reliable units will allow students to work in pairs rather than relying on demonstrations, improving practical skills, safety awareness and teamwork. This enhanced access is particularly important given timetable clashes and growing demand for practical work. The equipment will be reused throughout the year in lessons, clubs, science week activities and visiting primary sessions, ensuring long-term impact on engagement, understanding and attainment in STEM subjects. |
| Hockerill | Bishops Stortford | STEM |
Thirty BBC micro:bit V2 Starter Kits will enhance computing and STEM teaching at Hockerill Anglo-European College by enabling hands-on, physical coding experiences for students in Years 7–9. The kits will extend learning beyond screen-based programming, allowing pupils to apply coding concepts to real-world hardware, develop problem-solving skills, and understand how software interacts with physical systems. Initially used across three computing classes, the micro:bits will also support an after-school computing club, broadening access and deepening engagement for motivated learners. As students progress, the resources will support a transition from block-based coding to Python, ensuring continuity, challenge and long-term value within the school’s computing curriculum. |
| Watford Girls Grammar | Watford | PE |
Sixteen football kits, two football goal posts, and three digital video cameras with tripods will strengthen PE provision and assessment at Watford Grammar School for Girls. The new football kits and goals will support the growing popularity of girls’ football in Years 7 and 8, enabling more pupils to participate confidently in lessons, clubs and competitive fixtures, while promoting teamwork, fitness and inclusion. The cameras and tripods will be used by older students in Years 10–13 to record performances across a range of sports for GCSE and A-level moderation. This will improve the quality of assessment, help students analyse and refine their performance, and support stronger examination outcomes across PE. |
| Katherine Warrington | Harpenden | PE |
Three indoor table tennis tables will expand PE provision and extracurricular sport at Katherine Warington School for students in Years 7–13. Increasing the number of tables will reduce overcrowding, allowing more pupils to be actively engaged at any one time and improving the quality of teaching and learning during curriculum lessons. The additional equipment will also enable wider participation in after-school clubs, supporting students who may not engage with traditional team sports. Looking ahead, the tables will be used during summer school activities for incoming Year 7 pupils, helping them build confidence and positive relationships through sport. Overall, the project promotes inclusive participation, skill development and long-term engagement in physical activity across the school community. |
| Verulam | St. Albans | PE |
An analogue hand grip dynamometer, football kits and an indoor table tennis table to enhance curriculum delivery and participation across the (mainly) games aspect of Physical Education. The equipment will support pupils from Years 7 to 13, strengthening learning in health-related fitness, practical performance and sports analysis. The dynamometer will enable pupils to measure and interpret fitness data, supporting GCSE, BTEC and A-level coursework and exam preparation. The football kits will ensure inclusive participation in extracurricular sport, helping pupils take pride in representing the school. The table tennis table will expand access to lessons, clubs and competitive events, benefiting both Verulam pupils and visiting local schools. Over time, the resources will improve engagement, attainment and progression in PE across the school community. |
| Westfield | Watford | STEM |
Control and Power bundles, a mecanum wheel set and a sensor bundle to expand the school’s robotics and STEM provision across Years 7–10. The equipment will support hands-on learning in computing, design technology and mathematics, enabling pupils to design, build, programme and refine robots to solve real-world challenges. Pupils will develop problem-solving, coding, teamwork and analytical skills through curriculum lessons, enrichment activities and competition preparation. The resources will allow the school to increase participation, support transition activities for new pupils and engage feeder primary schools. Over time, the project will strengthen technical understanding, raise motivation in STEM subjects and provide sustained opportunities for independent and applied learning. |
| Queens | Watford | STEM |
Micro:bit MOVE motors and MOVE motor Klaw kits to extend physical computing and robotics learning across Key Stage 3. The resources will enhance computing lessons by enabling pupils to apply coding skills to real, hands-on projects, improving engagement and understanding of core programming concepts. Pupils in Years 7–9 will benefit through curriculum lessons, enrichment activities and robotics sessions during activities weeks, with additional impact through the after-school computing club. The equipment will help sustain interest at a key decision point before GCSE options, supporting wider participation in computer science. Over time, the project aims to improve attainment, increase uptake at GCSE level and encourage greater diversity in STEM participation. |
| The Priory | Hitchin | STEM |
A cloud chamber, action-reaction platforms, high-voltage power supplies, and a dual-colour laser with receiver to strengthen practical physics teaching across Key Stages 3–5. The equipment will enhance demonstrations and hands-on investigations in topics including radioactivity, Newton’s Laws, electric and magnetic fields, quantum physics and light. Pupils will benefit from clearer visualisation of abstract concepts, deeper conceptual understanding and improved preparation for GCSE and A-level practical assessments. The new power supplies will also bring existing specialist equipment back into use, maximising previous investment. Over time, the resources will enrich the curriculum, increase engagement in physics and support higher attainment through more consistent, high-quality practical experiences. |
| St. Albans Girls School | St. Albans | STEM |
6x Casio FX-CG100 advanced colour graphic calculators and 50x Casio FX-991CW ClassWiz scientific calculatorsto strengthen mathematics learning across Key Stage 4 and post-16 study. The calculators will ensure pupils in Years 10–13 have consistent access to appropriate technology during lessons and assessments, supporting both GCSE and A-level mathematics and further mathematics. Pupils will use the devices to visualise functions, analyse data and complete complex calculations more efficiently, improving conceptual understanding and confidence. Providing loan equipment will also support pupils who cannot afford advanced calculators, ensuring equitable access to learning tools. Over time, the resources will help raise attainment, reduce barriers to participation and support deeper exploration of mathematical concepts. |
| Bushey Meads | Bushey | STEM |
Ten Android tablets to support practical coding and robotics activities using the school’s existing Sphero BOLT robots. The devices will enable pupils to programme robots through dedicated coding applications, allowing hands-on exploration of sequencing, algorithms, debugging and computational thinking within computing lessons and STEM activities. Pupils will also use the technology in cross-curricular work linking computing with English through storytelling and problem-solving tasks. The tablets will improve accessibility for pupils with SEND by providing visual, interactive learning experiences and immediate feedback from programmed actions. Over time, the resources will support wider participation in coding, strengthen collaboration across year groups, and encourage engagement with STEM learning. |
| The Reach Free | Rickmansworth | STEM |
LEGO Education Spike Prime sets, a laser ray kit, an optical bench with accessories, spectrum tubes with power supply, thermistors and LED indicators to enhance practical physics and STEM learning across Years 7–13. The equipment will support hands-on investigations in mechanics, electricity, optics, thermodynamics and spectroscopy, helping pupils connect theoretical concepts with observable experiments. Pupils will benefit from opportunities to design investigations, analyse data and develop coding and problem-solving skills through robotics and laboratory work. The resources will support both core curriculum lessons and enrichment activities, helping engage pupils with varying levels of prior attainment. Over time, the equipment will strengthen practical science provision, deepen conceptual understanding and encourage sustained interest in physics and wider STEM pathways.
|