IMA: Education Grant

Introduction
The Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the Education Grants. Individuals in secondary schools, Colleges of Further Education (FE) and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in the United Kingdom can apply for a grant to help with the costs of running or attending an educational activity relating to mathematics.

The Institute is aware that educational establishments may have to find alternative funding to help with the cost of running or attending an educational activity relating to mathematics. The Institute is pleased that the Education Grants will help financially support such activities, which will help increase the popularity of mathematics with learners and encourage the take up of mathematics post-16.

An initial budget of £6k has been earmarked for this scheme and will be split equally between schools/Further Education and Higher Education. Grants will be made up to a value of £600.

Educational Activities Relating to Mathematics
The Institute does not have a comprehensive list of the types of activities that the Education Grants will fund. However, the following is to give potential applicants an idea of the kind of things that the Education Grants may fund.

With regards to applications for grants for CPD courses or mathematical software, educational establishments normally have a budget for this. The Institute would have to know why this could not be used.

¹ An ‘appropriate event’ is an event that is deemed to fulfil the aim of the Education Grants.

Eligibility
Members and non-members of the Institute working in schools², FE and HEIs (including PhD students) may apply for a Grants; however, weight will be given to submissions that clearly benefit the educational establishments of members of the Institute.

If the applicant is not a member of the Institute the name of a co-applicant who is a member must be given.

Applications from primary schools are also welcome, but due to the aims of the Institute, we ask that primary schools are working with a secondary school, FE or HEI³.

Applications from those whose organisation’s work is related to schools, FE or HEIs are also welcome and will be considered on merit.

Grants are unlikely to be made to support activities for which substantial alternative funding sources currently exist.

² The IMA normally deals with mathematics education from the age of 14. Applications from those working in secondary schools, teaching the age ranges of 11- 16/18 are welcome.

³ This criterion maybe relaxed for members of the Institute that work in primary schools.

How to Apply
Applications can be made at anytime of the year for grants up to £600. You will need to complete the Education Grants Application Form (Word) or (PDF) and the Education Grants Payment Details form (Word) or (PDF).

We advise that you give as much information as you can on your application form to help your application be successful.

Please ensure you and your co-applicant (if applicable) have both signed the application form and send your completed application form and payment details form to:
                                                Vanessa Thorogood
                                                Education Officer
                                                The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
                                                Catherine Richards House
                                                16 Nelson Street
                                                Southend-on-Sea
                                                Essex
                                                SS1 1EF

A decision on the award of a grant will be usually given within two months of submission of an application.

Please note – the Word version of both forms can be filled in electronically. Please do not send electronically the payment details form.

MCC–IMA School Affiliates
The Institute’s MCC-IMA School Affiliates are also welcome to apply. Any teacher from the MCC-IMA School affiliate may apply for an Education Grant, but the application form and activity report form must be co-signed by the point of contact registered with Susan Bolton (Services Officer).

What Happens Next?
Once your completed application form has been received, this will be circulated to the Education Grants Judging Panel. The Education Grants Judging Panel will consider each application individually and come to a conclusion based on the applications merits.

Successful Application
If your application is successful, then you will receive the grant from the Institute. Please note - the Education Grants Judging Panel reserves the right to award a grant, but for a lower amount than has been requested if they feel the activity does not justify the amount being requested.

A brief report on the outcomes of the activity funded, and how the money was used, must be submitted to the Education Officer within two months of completion of the activity. Successful applicants are also expected to write an article for the Institute’s publication Mathematics Today.

More Information Required
The Education Grants Judging Panel may request more information from an applicant before making a final decision on awarding the grant. The Education Officer will contact you and request this information.

Unsuccessful Application
If the Education Grants Judging Panel feel that the activity the grant will fund does not meet the aims of the Education Grants, then the request will be denied.

The Education Grants Judging Panel also reserves the right not to fund requests for grants if the budget allocated to the Education Grants has been spent.

Report
Successful applicants must complete a brief report on the activity that the Education Grants has funded within two months of completion of the activity and submit this to Vanessa Thorogood, Education Officer (address as above). A copy of the final report form can be found here in Word or PDF format.

Mathematics Today
Finally, successful applicants are expected to submit an article about the activity the Education Grants funded for the Institute’s publication Mathematics Today. The Institute’s members are keen to hear about activities the Institute’s grants have funded. If you are not a member of the Institute, you will receive a copy of the edition of Mathematics Today that your article appears in.

Editorial and refereeing policy
It is Institute policy to send all articles, letters and puzzles, which have mathematical or scientific content to referees, as a matter of routine, in order to ensure the accuracy of the material. At the same time confirmation is sought from the referees that the article is suitable, both in subject matter and style, for Mathematics Today. A balance of topics, and items, is maintained within issues and over several issues. Non-acceptance does not imply that an article does not meet the academic standard required. The Institute reserves the right to edit manuscripts for clarity of expression and to adjust the length of articles.

Permission must be obtained before items from Mathematics Today are reproduced or published in other publications.

Please send your article to Vanessa Thorogood (Vanessa.thorogood@ima.org.uk) who will forward it on to the Editorial Officer for Mathematics Today.

If you need any more information concerning the IMA Education Grants please contact Vanessa Thorogood (Education Officer).