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

Adventures in the Wild!
Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
Overall Rating: 
4.5

The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget. We pay meticulous attention to the details, making sure our pastoral care is second to none, our activities are both exciting and educational, and the whole experience of working with The Bushcraft Company, from the booking process to the day you leave, is easy and enjoyable.

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

A charming small museum with collections of agricultural and domestic tools from Lynton and Exmoor. Also maritime, railway, and natural history. Unique pictures of the Lynmouth Flood, and a Victorian dolls' house. 

Housed in Lynton's oldest surviving domestic dwelling, it even includes its own ghost!

Natural History

A collection of stuffed birds (including a Golden Eagle found storm-battered on Exmoor in 1920) and small mammals. These are housed in our "ghost" room! Visit us to find out the story behind this.

His place of birth, home, influence and inspiration
Venue Type: 
Tours
Overall Rating: 
0

Welcome to Shrewsbury – the birthplace of Charles Robert Darwin: naturalist, explorer and true Salopian.

Darwin was born at Mount House in Shrewsbury on 12th February 1809 and spent the first 27 years of his life in the town. Darwin’s early life inspired his fascination with the natural world leading to his theories of evolution. Much of Shrewsbury remains unchanged since Darwin’s time, indeed he would still recognise much of town.

Venue Type: 
Castles
Overall Rating: 
0

With so much to see and do, a trip to Belsay is one of the best value family days out in north-east England. Explore the medieval castle, the Grecian inspired Hall and acres of impressive gardens.

You can spend hours exploring both inside and out on fair and wet weather days. The Hall is an unfurnished architectural masterpiece inspired by the temples of ancient Greece, with its fabulous pillars. Explore the great room of the ruined medieval castle and don't miss the stunning views from the top of the tower.

Guided Tour of Gardens with Head Gardener

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

St Mary's Hospital is home to the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum. The laboratory where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin has been restored to its cramped condition of 1928 and incorporated into a museum about the discovery and his life and work. It is open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and can be visited by appointment outside of these times.

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

This remarkable small museum is home to many diverse collections of items made from straw including marquetry, embroidery, straw stars, Swiss straw lace and dyed straw marquetry. 

There are also examples of other crafts such as quilling, tatting and beadwork. Owner, Ella Carstairs, will be happy to give you demonstrations of straw marquetry and quilling.

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

The Florence Nightingale Museum is located at St Thomas's Hospital.

Nestled right beside the beach in a beautiful area of North Norfolk, this rural setting really gives children the opportunity to get out into the great outdoors
Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
Overall Rating: 
0

A spectacularly grand Manor House, steeped in history and situated in a vibrant seaside town on the North Norfolk coast, Overstrand provides a unique study environment

Specialist Environmental Field Study centre for Geography, Biology and Environmental Science, with dedicated and passionate tutors

Situated next to a stretch of coastline designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

About Overstrand Hall 

Neolithic and Iron Age site rich in wildlife, offering sweeping views of surrounding countryside
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

Discover an unusually designed Iron Age hill fort, containing a smaller central, possibly Neolithic, enclosure. Enjoy the exceptional views from the ramparts over Salisbury Plain, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral. The ramparts also act as a refuge for unusual plants.

In late spring and summer experience, a carpet of wild flowers including orchids, the air filled with insects and the song of skylarks.

Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
Overall Rating: 
0

A friendly run activity centre, we are small enough to care but large enough and experienced enough to matter. A residential outdoor education programme can be an extremely powerful, meaningful and fun learning experience. We aim to provide an Outdoor Education experience that will be the highlight to any educational or youth programme. At Encompass Training we believe passionately in the value of real outdoor education. As such we can run a wide range of activities and programmes.

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