Reporting to the Board are three policy groups which cover in more detail scientific issues in the sectors of education, health, public affairs and sustainability. The groups usually operate in partnership with other organisations with relevant interests in the specific sectors.

The policy groups identify and act upon major issues relevant to those sectors.  Presentations by leading experts in the field are a regular feature of meetings to stimulate debate and help to progress projects.  The policy groups are composed of experts in the sector from member organisations and invited advisors from organisations with significant influence in the sector.  Others are invited as advisers on an ad hoc basis as relevant to the agenda and for special working groups for projects and surveys.

The Science Council has in its membership, organisations which differ enormously in size. The Board of the Science Council is constituted of the larger organisations in Membership (those having over 3000 individual 'professional' members). As a representative organisation it is important that the views and objectives of the smaller member organisations are represented to the Board, the Small Socities Forum provides a platform for this.