Science

Science

The teaching and learning of science can take many forms due to the large number of branches of the discipline, but all of them involve a large element of  doing things, of experimenting, of making and breaking, of trying out new ideas, whether at primary or secondary level. This has been appreciated by museums and visitors centres, so that we now have a plethora of possibilities.

The Association for Science Education is the lead body helping schools to develop their teaching and learning. It offers support for primary and secondary science subject leaders, teachers and schools, and keeps schools abreast of curriculum and assessment changes and reforms. The Association aims to enrich science teaching and learning with free resources, which can be found at: www.schoolscience.co.uk

Some venues are obviously specifically suitable for science groups, but others, which are more cross-curricular, are less obvious. Below we give staff a pointer to these as well as making it easy to access the websites of the well known attractions.

CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, has long been popular with British school groups. It is celebrating 60 years this year and is encouraging teachers to look at its Cern Education website.

CAT, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, is also celebrating a major birthday this year – its 40th. It is a very different experience from CERN, but fascinating nonetheless.

We should draw your attention to the fact that farm visits are popular with primary schools and there is a growing number of farms offering excellent opportunities – from feeding animals to driving tanks. But there are some stringent health and safety rules to be observed. For advice and guidance please contact Handsam by calling 0844 335 1737 or emailing info@schooltripsadvisor.org.uk.

 

Main organisations:

British Science Association

Association for Science Education

CLEAPSS

Membership through Handsam

Radiation Protection Officer services through Handsam

Science Learning Centres

​National STEM Centre

Inclusion: NASEN

 

Thought of visiting?

The Science Museum

Natural History Museum

National Space Museum

Centre for Alternative Technology

Cern Education website

ThinkTank, Birmingham

Michael Faraday Museum, London

National Conservation Centre, Liverpool

Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Techniquest (various locations in Wales including Cardiff, Wrexham and Pembrokeshire)

The Wellcome Collection, London

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Earth Centres

 

For a complete list of venues and providers who deliver specialist courses and activities for this subject see below

Mount's Bay

A delightful pick and mix selection of places along the coast
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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From Trewavas in the east to Trenow in the west the characters of each area are as different as their histories; industrial heritage sites, wild and rocky cliffs, archaeological treats, and tiny wind-harassed agricultural coastal fields.

Look through the opaque cloak of today’s apparent wilderness, to see the marks left by the farmers, miners, worshippers and fishermen who worked and walked this coast.

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Lydford Gorge

The deepest gorge in the South West, with spectacular 30m waterfall
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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The gorge is an amazing place to visit at any time of the year. The wildlife, river, plants and trees provide a stunning show each and every day.

Dippers and wagtails can be seen flying low over the river, while woodland birds can be spotted darting about in the trees.

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Cissbury Ring

The most historic hill on the South Downs
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Cissbury Ring, just north of the coastal town of Worthing, is one of the jewels in the crown of the new South Downs National Park. It's the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years.

Set high up on a chalk promontory, its ditch and ramparts enclose about sixty-five acres. From the top on a clear day you can see forever, with views across to the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton and as far as the Isle of Wight.

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Dudmaston Estate

An old family home with a modern twist...
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Enchanted wooded parkland, sweeping gardens and a house with a surprise, Dudmaston is something unexpected in the Shropshire countryside. A much loved home for over 875 years you will find the family rooms scattered with photos and perhaps an odd pair of shoes or two peeping out from under a table. The unexpected galleries create a total contrast, with their formal, crisp lines. They were designed by the last owner, Rachel, Lady Labouchere, to house her and her husband’s differing modern and traditional collections of art for the visitor to peruse.

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Nostell Priory and Parkland

18th-century architectural masterpiece with landscape park and gardens
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
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Built on the site of a medieval priory, Nostell has been the home of the Winn family for 300 years. Commissioned by Sir Rowland Winn in 1733, James Paine built the house. Later additions by Robert Adam created exceptional interiors.

Visitors can explore 121 hectares (300 acres) of parkland with a range of walks and views. Gardens include lakeside walks, a newly planted orchard and an adventure playground.

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Durham Coast

County Durham's coastline has emerged from a polluted industrial past to become a haven for wildlife
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Durham Coast is a wonderful place for walkers and for those who want to enjoy the scenery from the cliff top paths.

The magnesian limestone that underlies this area has given rise to a spectacular landscape of cream-coloured cliffs intersected by steep-sided wooded valleys, or gills.

In summer the coastal grasslands are awash with rare and colourful wild flowers, which provide habitat to some very special wildlife such as the iconic Durham Brown Argus butterfly.

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Fair Isle

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Located halfway between Orkney and Shetland, Fair Isle is one of Britain’s most remote inhabited islands.

It may be small – only three miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide – but there is plenty to see and do. Fair Isle is a crofting community with a thriving traditional crafts industry, where you can see the island’s craftspeople at work boat-building, spinning, weaving and, of course, knitting.

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Drovers Estate

Nestled in undulating hills, step back to a timeless rural life
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Drovers is a hidden estate nestling in the undulating hills and valleys of the South Downs. Here you can step back to a timeless rural life, set amidst shady woodland and rolling ancient pastures, punctuated by traditional flint cottages and barns. It provides an insight into traditional management which has formed the working landscape that we see today.

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Center Parcs - Woburn Forest Holiday Forest

Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
Overall Rating: 
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Located near Luton, Milton Keynes and Dunstable, you can visit Center Parcs Woburn Forest to enjoy an active or relaxing stay.

At the heart of the Village Square is our iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise for all the family to enjoy. Explore all that the Indoor Plaza has to offer, home to the Hotel and Spa Suites and our most innovative spa, Aqua Sana. At both the Village Square and the Plaza you’ll find family favourite restaurants and a fantastic selection of shops.

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Carnewas at Bedruthan

Dramatic coastline with views over huge rock stacks
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Carnewas has become one of the most popular destinations on the north Cornish coast because of the spectacular cliff-top view of sea stacks stretching across Bedruthan beach (not Trust-owned).

This piece of coastline, just a few miles along the coast from Padstow, keeps itself hidden as you first enter the car park. However, take a short walk along the well established paths and you will be rewarded with views that are arguably some of the most impressive in Cornwall.

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