A generous £1.5 million gift from The Ogden Trust will provide vital support for the future of Isaac Science, a pioneering programme developed at the University of Cambridge to support physics education and widen participation in STEM subjects.

Founded in 2013 and led by Professor Lisa Jardine-Wright OBE, Isaac Science (formerly Isaac Physics) aims to improve students’ confidence and attainment in STEM subjects and equip teachers with the time and tools they need.

At the heart of the programme is a cutting-edge, online learning platform, which students use for interactive, independent learning, and time-poor teachers can use to plan lessons and automatically mark homework. Here students develop their skills by attempting to solve specially designed science problems, helping them to learn by doing. Alongside the online platform, activities such as problem-solving masterclasses, teacher professional development sessions, student mentoring, and residential events for students and teachers provide further support.

The Ogden Trust’s generous gift will build on its previous support for Isaac Physics by funding the specialist team who lead the programme, develop physics-specific content, and provide specialist teacher and student support.

"We are extremely grateful to The Ogden Trust for their generous support of the work that we are doing with Isaac Science to highlight the importance of physics education”, said Professor Jardine-Wright. “We are delighted to be building on our work together and forging new ground for the future of physics." Isaac Science has already demonstrated a significant impact. The platform is set to reach 200 million question attempts by the end of this year. Independent evaluation using UCAS data shows that students, particularly those from under-represented backgrounds, who engage deeply with Isaac Science are more likely to apply to and receive offers from selective universities, and to achieve higher A-level grades in STEM subjects.

The programme’s resources are widely used in schools across the UK, including those in areas of high deprivation. In 2023 to 2024, 1,951 English state schools actively used Isaac Science, with 422 of these located in the most deprived 40 per cent of areas nationally. The programme’s reach and effectiveness are further enhanced by its integration into the University’s STEM SMART widening participation programme.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing support for Isaac Science, which has become an integral and valuable part of the physics teaching and learning landscape,” says Clare Harvey, Chief Executive of The Ogden Trust. “Isaac Science is making a difference and has a valuable, ongoing role to play in strengthening physics and wider STEM education for young people. We are delighted to be part of its continuing journey.”

A long-standing donor to the University of Cambridge, The Ogden Trust is a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting the teaching and learning of physics. With a mission to strengthen physics education for young people aged 4 to 18, particularly in areas facing socio-economic disadvantage, the Trust works with teachers, senior leaders and university partners to ensure every young person has access to high-quality physics education and the opportunities that can bring. The Trust has a portfolio of free professional development and support available for those teaching physics.