Science Oxford

What Science Oxford does

Science Oxford is the public-facing education and engagement brand of The Oxford Trust, a UK registered charity (no. 292664) and company limited by guarantee founded in 1985 by Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood. It delivers STEM education and engagement programmes to primary and secondary pupils, teachers, families and community groups across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and operates the Science Oxford Centre in Headington — described as the UK's first indoor-outdoor hands-on primary science education centre, combining an interactive Exploration Zone with 15 acres of woodland and ponds and a planetarium dome. Educational delivery rests on the proprietary Thinking, Doing, Talking Science pedagogy co-developed with Oxford Brookes University and licensed nationally to the Primary Science Teaching Trust.

The portfolio spans primary school visits (charged at £10-£11 per pupil in 2025-27), an annual £200 school membership providing CPD, kit loans and discounts, a STEM kit loan service (£60-£120), teacher CPD and conferences (£25-£250), the Thinking, Doing, Talking Science CPD programme, STEM clubs and holiday clubs, sensory-friendly Family Days, the secondary STEM Careers Programme (Insight Days, masterclasses) and a new two-year Scholarship Programme launching for a September 2026 cohort. Outreach is delivered both on-site at the Centre and in schools across the two counties via mobile teams.

Revenue is a mix of transactional visit fees, recurring school membership, kit-loan fees, CPD/conference fees, community workshop fees, and charitable donations (administered through The Oxford Trust's Accessing Science Fund and supported by Garfield Weston Foundation, Gatsby, Hamilton Trust, Edina Trust and others). Commercial income from the Trust's two innovation centres (Wood Centre for Innovation, Oxford Centre for Innovation) subsidises Science Oxford's programmes. Distribution is event-driven: school networks, teacher recommendations, community organisation referrals, web/SEO, email newsletters, social channels, and flagship annual events such as the Big Science Event and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Primary Science Conferences.

Name

Science Oxford

Legal name

The Oxford Trust

Website

https://scienceoxford.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science Oxford, the public brand of The Oxford Trust, delivers STEM education across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire via the Science Oxford Centre's indoor-outdoor facilities, school visits, teacher CPD, family days, community outreach and a new Scholarship Programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH), Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC)

Keywords

• STEM education
• School science workshops
• Teacher CPD training
• Family science days
• Community science outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. School Visit Fees: Schools pay per pupil for visits to the Science Oxford Centre. Pricing is £10 per pupil (2025/2026) or £11 per pupil (2026/2027) with minimum charges of £200 and £220 respectively. Member schools receive 15% discount. Additional fees for schools with high FSM eligibility.
2. School Membership: Annual membership at £200 per academic year provides schools access to free CPD, discounts on bookings, free kit loans, and conference places. Free membership available for schools above national FSM average.
3. CPD and Training Courses: Fees for teacher professional development including conferences (£100), year group-specific CPD (£100), training courses, twilight sessions (£25-£80), and Thinking Doing Talking Science courses. Free for member schools.
4. STEM Kit Loan: 2-week kit loan for £60, 6-week kit loan for £120 (2025/2026 academic year). Free 2-week loan per term for member schools, 50% discount on additional loans.
5. Conference Fees: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Primary Science Conferences at £100 per teacher, £20 per trainee, with one free place per member school.
6. Community Group Bookings: Community activity days at £10 per child (adults free), minimum £200. Off-site community workshops at £250 (part-day) or £350 (full-day).
7. Donations and Charitable Support: Funded through The Oxford Trust Accessing Science Fund. Corporate sponsors, trusts, foundations, and individual supporters fund programs including free FSM school membership and subsidized activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Science Oxford delivers hands-on STEM education through the Science Oxford Centre in Headington, Oxford, combining school workshop visits, teacher CPD training, a kit loan service for classrooms, family open days, and community science events. Programmes are anchored in 50+ interactive indoor exhibits, an outdoor discovery zone, a planetarium, and a science gallery, designed for primary and secondary schools, families and community audiences across Oxfordshire.

Product overview

Science Oxford is the public-facing brand of The Oxford Trust, operating primarily as an educational charity rather than a technology company. Its core offering is the Science Oxford Centre — the UK's first indoor-outdoor primary science education centre — supplemented by extensive school programmes, teacher professional development, public family events, and community engagement activities. The product portfolio includes: the Science Oxford Centre with its Exploration Zone and 15 acres of outdoor woodland; school visit programmes; primary school outreach including shows, workshops, and a STEM kit loan service; the STEM Careers Programme for secondary schools featuring the Scholarship Programme, STEM Insight Days, and masterclasses; teacher CPD including the research-based Thinking, Doing, Talking Science approach, conferences, and network meetings; Family Days and STEM Clubs for public visitors; holiday clubs and coding workshops; community group activity days; and the annual Big Science Event. The Science Oxford website serves as both an information portal and a booking platform integrated with Eventbrite for ticketing and HubSpot for application processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School workshop visits at the Science Oxford Centre Curriculum-linked, hands-on science day visits for primary and secondary school groups at the Science Oxford Centre, including access to 50+ exhibits, planetarium shows and facilitated workshops aligned to the national curriculum.
• Family open days and weekend science events Weekend and holiday family sessions offering access to the indoor exhibits, outdoor discovery zone and themed science activities for children, parents and carers on a ticketed basis.
• Teacher CPD and twilight training Continuing professional development sessions for teachers and teaching assistants covering practical science teaching, kit use and curriculum-aligned pedagogy, delivered as twilight sessions and short courses.
• Kit loan service for schools Loan of STEM resource boxes and equipment to schools to support classroom science teaching between centre visits, typically available to school members.
• Community science outreach and off-site events Outreach science events and activities delivered in libraries, community centres and other venues across Oxfordshire, including underserved communities, often with pay-what-you-can pricing.
• School membership (Science Oxford Plus) Annual school membership scheme giving subscribing primary and secondary schools benefits such as discounted or unlimited centre visits, kit loan access and other programme entitlements across the academic year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 32,000 people reached in 2024/2025 academic year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• AbbottcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting Science Oxford programmes. Abbott volunteers participated in Big Science Event sharing science activities around chocolate and food sugar content.
• Edina TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting Science Oxford's education and engagement programmes.
• Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting Science Oxford's education programmes. Thinking, Doing, Talking Science is cited as evidence in EEF's 2023 Improving Primary Science guidance report.
• EET (not further identified)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting Science Oxford programmes.
• Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner. Under exclusive licence from The Oxford Trust, PSTT is the lead national partner for delivery of Thinking, Doing, Talking Science courses in the rest of the UK outside Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
• Diamond Light SourcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience and Technology Facilities Council facility. Supported Big Science Event with volunteers sharing science activities. Provides real research connection for student programs.
• University of OxfordmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive Lab partner with Oxford Brookes Department of Biological and Medical Sciences and University of Oxford Jenner Institute. Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine also partner for Live Lab programme.
• Oxford Brookes UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created Thinking, Doing, Talking Science pedagogy with Science Oxford. Live Lab partner through Department of Biological and Medical Sciences.
• Oxford City CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner supporting Science Oxford's community engagement activities.
• STEM Learning LtdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational STEM education organization. Joshua Piggott is a registered Professional Development Leader for STEM Learning UK.
• Association of Science and Discovery CentressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of science discovery centres. Science Oxford is part of this network. Wood Farm cinema event funded through ASDC as part of Bold Futures programme.
• Great Science Share for SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration for Big Science Event. 127 schools from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire registered for 2026, part of over 1 million global participants.
• IF Science & Ideas FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford's science and ideas festival. Partnership for Super Science Saturday events and festival collaboration.
• Oxfordshire LibrariessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer Reading Challenge partnership with The Story Garden theme. Library tour providing hands-on science workshops across Oxfordshire.
• UK Atomic Energy AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM employer partner for Insight Days. Students learn about fusion energy and tour the JET facility.
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM employer partner. Students visit Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to learn about particle physics, laser development and space technology.
• Oxford InstrumentssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM employer partner supporting STEM Careers Programme with industry exposure and career insights.
• BeardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business supporting STEM Careers Programme.
• VertexsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM employer partner for career exploration programs.
• CardiaTec BiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford-based biotech company supporting STEM Careers Programme.
• LumaisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company supporting STEM career insights.
• PicturaBiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotech company supporting STEM education programmes.
• Jack FertilitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare company supporting STEM career awareness.
• HeliosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM employer partner for career programmes.
• Bio-ArchitechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM partner for career exploration.
• Aurora Energy ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy sector company supporting STEM career programmes.
• Space Store (Oxford)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Starry Night events providing VR headsets and space suits for immersive space experiences.
• Abingdon and Marcham Astronomical SocietiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Starry Night telescope viewing events at Science Oxford Centre.
• Parasol ProjectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing funded places for young people to attend Science Oxford activities.
• Berkshire VisionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision charity for families. Partnership for accessible Science Oxford Centre visits exploring woodland and nature.
• Be Free Young CarerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung carers organization. STEM activities provided as respite for carers across Oxfordshire.
• Autism Family Support OxfordshiresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for sensory-friendly family days at Science Oxford Centre for families with autism or additional needs.
• Rosalind Franklin InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute. Patricia Smith from RFI presents at Primary Science Conference on citizen science and AI in biological image analysis.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Eden Project: Cornwall-based environmental education and visitor attraction delivering school workshops, family programming and outdoor learning — comparable in combining immersive outdoor education with school and family audiences, though with an environmental rather than STEM-lab focus.

Direct peers

• Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum: Birmingham science museum combining interactive galleries with school and family programming — a comparable urban science-centre model with significant school-outreach scale.
• Centre for Life: Newcastle-based science centre combining interactive exhibits, education programmes and live-lab biomedical engagement — comparable in combining public visitor experience with school STEM outreach.
• Cambridge Science Centre: A hands-on science education charity in Cambridge running interactive exhibits, workshops and outreach to schools and families — the closest direct functional analogue to Science Oxford's Centre-based model.
• Techniquest: Wales's longest-established hands-on science discovery centre in Cardiff, delivering school visits, family programming and teacher CPD — directly comparable in mission and operating model to Science Oxford.
• National Space Centre: Leicester-based space-focused science centre with planetarium, exhibits and school programming — directly comparable in its mix of immersive exhibits, planetarium-led space science and school engagement.
• Glasgow Science Centre: Scotland's flagship hands-on science centre with exhibit floors, planetarium and education programmes — a directly comparable science-centre operating model with similar school and family audiences.
• We The Curious: Bristol science centre emphasising hands-on experimentation, open inquiry and school engagement — highly comparable in pedagogical approach and audience to Science Oxford's Exploration Zone.

Broad incumbents

• Science Museum Group: National group operating the Science Museum and related sites in London and Manchester — a broader incumbent with overlapping STEM education, exhibits and family programming at much greater scale.
• Royal Institution: London-based historic STEM engagement charity running family lectures, masterclasses, teacher CPD and school programmes — comparable in mission to widen STEM access and teacher professional development, but operating at national scale rather than regional.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ScienceOxford
• Facebookfacebook.com/ScienceOxford/?locale=en_GB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-oxford
• Instagraminstagram.com/ScienceOxford

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Science Oxford