SEPnet Outreach: building and sustaining links between university physics departments

The SEPnet Outreach work strand is a collaboration between university physics departments around the South East of England as a direct response to the national STEM agenda and the recruitment needs of the partner departments. A portfolio of activities has been developed that builds on the strengths of each department to deliver higher impact through collaborative development and delivery. In particular the two year repeat contact „SEPnet GCSE Programme‟ shows that a region-wide programme drawing inspiration not just from the physics departments but the school teachers they work with can be particularly effective. This paper looks at the successes of the activities so far and takes a look ahead.