Pupil Development Grant (Wales): can it pay for a STEM workshop?

Short answer

Possibly, with conditions

Allocated fundingAllocated each year, no application round

The grant is delegated to schools to narrow the attainment gap for disadvantaged learners. The Welsh Government's guidance does not say whether an external provider's workshop fee is a permitted use, so a workshop would need to be part of the school's evidenced approach for eligible learners. Check with your local authority before using it this way.

Checked on the funder's website on 10 November 2026. View the funder's page (gov.wales)

How to use it for a workshop

Position the workshop as part of the school's evidenced PDG spending plan for eligible learners, and confirm with the school's finance lead or local authority that an external provider's fee is an accepted use before booking.

Put a price in your application

From £597 per day, excluding VAT, for the nearest schools.See your exact price

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Key facts

What it is: Annual grant to Welsh schools and settings, delegated via the local authority based on eligible free-school-meal learner numbers, intended to narrow the attainment gap for disadvantaged learners.
Amount: £1,150 per eligible learner (£116.5 million delegated in total, plus £5.7 million for children looked after)
Who can apply: SchoolDelegated to schools and settings via the local authority based on eligible pupil numbers; there is no competitive application for the core grant.
Phases: Primary, Secondary
Where: Wales
Funder: Welsh Government

Matching workshops

Other schemes you could apply to now

Open all yearPossibly, with conditions

BlueSpark Foundation grants

Amount: Most grants are under £2,000; none are more than £5,000
Deadline: Open all year, no fixed deadline

Open all yearCan pay for a workshop

Edina Trust Science Grant Scheme

Amount: £1,000 primary school science grants (£500 for Junior & Infant schools) and £700 nursery science grants
Deadline: Open all year, no fixed deadline