A £6 million donation from Sir James Dyson to build a first-class science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) centre in Wiltshire has received the green light from Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.
Ministers at the department for education approved the expansion of Malmesbury Primary School in Wiltshire for the new centre which was a condition of the donation from the Dyson Foundation.
The expansion will see purpose-built rooms equipped for design, technology, art, science, and mathematics-based activities as well as additional classrooms. If planning permission is approved by Wiltshire Council, it is expected to be open to pupils from September 2027.
Sir James Dyson is a British inventor and business magnate who founded Dyson and is best known as the inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2023, Sir James is the fifth richest person in the UK, with an estimated net worth of £23 billion.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
I welcome this generous donation from the Dyson Foundation which will support cutting edge education for local pupils, helping to develop the scientists and engineers of the future.
This new centre will provide world-class facilities for pupils in Malmesbury and the surrounding areas to inspire them and develop the skills we need to compete on the world stage.
The £6 million donation builds on the work we have been doing to boost the uptake of STEM subjects in schools and through apprenticeships and further education, boosting growth and opportunity in these vital sectors.
In November, Sir James announced a £35 million donation to his former private school, Gresham’s School in Holt in Norfolk, which allowed him to continue his studies for free after the death of his father.
To support growth and develop STEM skills across the country, the department of Education is running programmes such as the Stimulating Physics Network, and has a network of maths hubs and scholarships worth £30,000 to encourage more teachers to nurture future talent by teaching STEM subjects.
Additionally, design and technology trainee teachers will now receive tax free bursaries of £25,000 to train to teach, up from £20,000 in the academic year 2023/24.
New T Level qualifications are also being rolled out, including in engineering and manufacturing, whilst a network of 21 Institutes of Technology is being established to work closely with industry and pioneer higher-level STEM training.
The Government say they are continuing to also work with employers to offer more apprenticeship opportunities, including in dynamic and in-demand STEM fields. Apprenticeships are a great way for anyone, regardless of their background, to gain the skills they need for a successful career in STEM, and employers have developed over 365 high-quality apprenticeships in the Construction, Digital, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Health and Science sectors.
New specialist maths school are also being established across the county, offering talented young people world class maths and STEM opportunities regardless of their background. Seven schools are already open and teaching students in Exeter, Cambridge, Leeds and London (Imperial College), with a further four set to open in other parts of England.
The department of Education is also working with other government departments through the UK Science & Technology Framework to deliver talent and skills for critical technologies.
