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

Lincoln Cathedral

Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
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We welcome thousands of children from schools across the world to the Cathedral every year. Many hundreds visit during our annual schools’ festivals: Church Schools Festival, Infant Schools Festival, Secondary Schools Festival and Special Schools Festival and we offer schools’ tours and trails throughout the academic year.

Lincoln Cathedral is an exceptional resource for learning outside the classroom. It offers opportunities for children and young people to explore Art and Design, Citizenship, History, Maths, RE, Science, and much more.

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Kinder, Edale and the Dark Peak

Heather-clad moors of Kinder to the gritstone tors of Derwent Edge
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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The wild Pennine moorlands are of international importance for their populations of breeding birds and mosaic of habitats.

Sites of particular interest include Mam Tor, with spectacular views, landslip and prehistoric settlement, the famous Snake Pass and Alport Castles in Alport Valley. Kinder Scout, where the Mass Trespass of 1932 took place, is the highest point in the Peak District and is the location for a lot of our current conservation work in the Dark Peak.

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Belvoir Castle

Venue Type: 
Castles
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Belvoir Castle stands high on a hill overlooking 16,000 acres of woodland and farmland. Visitors from all over the world are welcomed here to events in the park, weddings, our world famous pheasant and partridge Belvoir Shoot, tours of the Castle and its art collection and our recently renovated gardens. Whatever draws you to Belvoir will enable you to share the magic of this estate.

The Castle and Gardens are open most Sundays and Mondays between Easter and early September.

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Ludshott Commons

One of the largest remaining areas of heathland in East Hampshire
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Ludshott Common covers 285 ha (705 acres) and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA) because of its wildlife.

For centuries, it was used by local commoners whose ancient rights allowed them to graze their cattle, sheep, ponies and pigs. Some commoners collected heather, gorse, wood and bracken for fuel, winter fodder and animal bedding. These activities led to the open heathland you can see here today.

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Osterley Park and House

A Georgian country estate in west London
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
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A short hop from central London by tube but a world apart. Stroll up the tree-lined drive, past the grazing Charolais cattle and you'd think you're in the country, not urban Hounslow.

Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London.

Once described by Horace Walpole as 'the palace of palaces', Osterley was created in the late 18th century by architect and designer Robert Adam for the Child family to entertain and impress their friends and clients.

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Muchelny Abbey

Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
0

Muchelney Abbey, which lies two miles south of Langport, was once a landmark in the Somerset Levels and still has much to offer its visitors – history lovers in particular will enjoy this fascinating site but there is also plenty for families to do.

It was once a wealthy Benedictine house and the second oldest religious foundation in Somerset, but as part of the dissolution the abbey’s principal buildings were demolished by Henry VIII in 1538.

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Buckfast Abbey

Home of a Community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks
Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
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The monks are pleased to welcome school groups to their Abbey.

We have a long established Education Department (over 25 years!) with full-time education staff. This means that we can provide facilities and resources for all ages and ability levels covering a wide range of subject areas.

Our aim is to make a visit an active learning experience, encouraging pupils to understand by asking questions and solving problems.

We hope to provide experiences and memories that will last beyond the length of their visit.

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St Kilda World Heritage Site

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Sometimes described as ‘the islands at the edge of the world’, the archipelago of St Kilda is located 41 miles west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Formed from the rim of an ancient volcano, it is the remotest part of the British Isles.

Comprising four islands – Hirta, Soay, Boreray and Dun – as well as several sea stacks, St Kilda is truly spectacular. It is one of only 29 global locations to be awarded ‘mixed’ World Heritage Status in recognition of both its natural and cultural significance.

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Holdenby Falconry Centre

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

The Falconry Centre contains many species of birds of prey, flown by the resident Falconer. You are able to fly some of the beautiful birds yourself.

Our Education Department is amongst the most prestigious in the country. We celebrated our 33rd year last year and are one of only three centres to have been awarded six consecutive Sandford Awards by the Heritage Education Trust for excellence in education, as well as a Reed Award for work with special needs children.

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Brean Down

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Brean Down is a wonderful location for a day out in Somerset. Enjoy relaxing on the beach at the foot of the Down, building sandcastles and visiting the Cove Café for a seaside treat.

Venture to the top of the Down and take the exhilarating 1.5 mile walk along Somerset’s greatest natural pier.

The Down stands 97m high and the views from the top are truly spectacular, looking out over the Bristol Channel towards south Wales and over the Somerset Levels.

Uncover the secrets of Brean Down as you discover the site of a Roman temple and explore the Palmerston Fort.

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