The Programme

The Young STEM Leader Programme enables young people in Scotland to inspire, lead and mentor their peers through the delivery of STEM activities, events or interactions within their learning communities.

As well as developing important leadership, communication and employability skills, completing a Young STEM Leader award will motivate young people to progress their STEM studies leading towards positive destinations in STEM.

Above all, the Programme aims to promote curiosity in STEM, allowing Young STEM Leaders to learn about the world around them in a fun, engaging and accessible way.

Download the YSLP Handbook

View case study

The programme is offered across seven curricular levels:

Non-formal version
digitally badged or certificated

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Formal version
SCQF credit rated by SQA

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STEM Leader 7

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Who can take part?

The programme is open to all young people in Scotland and it can be delivered within a school, community or youth group setting. It can be integrated with existing awards and programmes that a young person may hold or be working towards. Centres are encouraged to decide the most appropriate level to offer their young people. The Project Team at SSERC can support with this decision.

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Auto Awards

The YSLP partners with many other organisations and Award programmes to ensure that young people already engaged in excellent STEM learning and leadership can gain additional recognition through an ‘Auto-Award’ for the Young STEM Leader programme. The YSLP team works closely with partners to align the outcomes and criteria of the partner programmes to the YSLP frameworks.

North Lanarkshire Council Leadership Academy (STEM at National 5 carries an Auto-Award for YSL5
North Lanarkshire Council Leadership Academy (STEM) at Higher carries an Auto-Award for YSL6

East Lothian Council Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies carries an Auto-Award for YSL6

Industrial Cadets Gold Project carries an Auto-Award for YSL6
Industrial Cadets Bronze Project carries an Auto-Award for YSL4 (Non-Formal)
FunSTEM Programme carries an Auto-Award for YSL2
Insight into Apprenticeships programme carries an Auto-Award at YSL5

Primary Class carries an Auto-Award for YSL2
Entry Class carries an Auto-Award for YSL3
Development Class carries Auto-Awards for YSL4, YSL5 and YSL6
Professional Class carries Auto-Awards for YSL5

Completing a Formal YSLP award can satisfy the Skills and Volunteering component of a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver or Gold award providing the activities take place over the prescribed DofE timescales.

The Climate Smarter and Carbon Capture and Storage projects both carry Auto-Awards for YSL2

Schools Air Race Challenge carries Auto-Awards for YSL2 and YSL3

Completing the #DigiInventors Challenge (Primary) carries an Auto-Award for YSL2
Completing the #DigiInventors Challenge (Secondary) video entry programme carries an Auto-Award for YSL4 (Non-Formal)
Qualifying as a finalist for #DigiInventors Challenge (Secondary) and completing bootcamp carries an Auto-Award for YSL4 (Formal)

Aberdeenshire Council Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies carries an Auto-Award for YSL6

STEM Saturdays carries an Auto-Award for YSL3.

What does a Young STEM Leader do?

In the Young STEM Leader Programme, YSLs will create, plan and deliver one or more STEM activity, event or interaction for other people. Whether running STEM clubs, leading large events, delivering one-to-one mentoring or recording videos or podcasts, Young STEM Leaders will develop skills in organisation, communication and leadership.

The STEM Leader 7 Award allows learners to develop leadership skills through the completion of an independent research project, tailored towards an area of their interest. STEM Leaders will be supported throughout the project by their Tutor Assessor or an external partner who will provide mentorship as they plan, deliver and present the results of their research.

Evidencing the journey

Our awards are evidenced through bespoke, accessible Logs. These can be completed digitally on the Young STEM Leader website, on paper, or by collating other forms of physical or digital evidence. Example evidence, assessment guidance and activity packs are provided to centres to support this.

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Supporting Young STEM Leaders

To deliver the Young STEM Leader Programme, a Delivering Centre needs to have one or more trained Tutor Assessors (TAs) to deliver the programme and one internal verifier (IV). Tutor Assessors will support YSLs, deliver front-loaded learning, provide resources and assess learner evidence. Training, ongoing support and a wide range of resources are provided by SSERC.