FSC Rhyd-y-creuau provides high quality residential outdoor learning and fieldwork for primary schools, secondary schools and university groups. We also have a range of courses and holidays for adults and families.
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.
The announcement in April 2015 that the new SKA radiotelescope is to be built in the UK will also be a huge boost for scientists looking for projects to follow and then visit as the telescope is built in readiness for full operational capability in 2025.
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 03332 070737 or emailing trips@handsam.co.uk.
Main organisations:
Association for Science Education
Membership through Handsam
Radiation Protection Officer services through Handsam
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Centre for Alternative Technology
Michael Faraday Museum, London
National Conservation Centre, Liverpool
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Techniquest (various locations in Wales including Cardiff, Wrexham and Pembrokeshire)
Venues for this Curriculum
In addition to our two residential centres in Cumbria, FSC has a dedicated team of teaching staff who deliver full or half day courses for schools using the stunning locations found within the Lake District. A typical day begins at 10.00am when one of our teaching staff will meet you at your chosen site.
Shropshire/Welsh Border
Preston Montford has been an FSC Field Centre since 1957. It serves a very diverse range of customers of all ages and levels of learning. It has been accredited with Eco-Centre status.
Pembrokeshire Coast
Orielton Field Centre is ideally placed to explore the diverse environments & habitats that Pembrokeshire has to offer. As a centre we cater for University Groups, Schools and leisure learners.
Northern Ireland
FSC Northern Ireland provides fieldwork opportunities in Belfast with a wide variety of urban fieldwork courses across Belfast and in the Titanic Quarter, which is one of the world’s largest urban, waterfront regeneration projects.
West Fermanagh
Derrygonnelly Centre lies in the unspoilt West Fermanagh countryside, 10 miles from Enniskillen and only 15 miles from the Donegal coast. The Centre is run in partnership with Derrygonnelly and District Community Enterprises, on the site of a former creamery. The River Sillees runs through the Centre grounds.
Exmoor
Nettlecombe Court lies in a secluded valley at the eastern edge of Exmoor National Park. The house is a striking example of a Tudor and Georgian country mansion set within its own grounds. The Centre has excellent access to the Somerset coast as well as Exmoor National Park and The Quantocks Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Neath Port Talbot / Castell Nedd Port Talbot
Set in 850 acres of beautiful parkland where 600 deer roam freely, Margam Discovery Centre offers high quality environmental education to all age groups, both residentially and for day visits. The centre is a state of the art low carbon footprint building designed by The Welsh School of Architects.
FSC Malham Tarn is an excellent base for primary school trips. At Malham Tarn we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities for primary school children.
Amersham Field Centre is located in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The FSC manages the centre and nature reserve on behalf of National Grid Transco. The 30 hectare site provides a mosaic of woodland, grassland and pond habitats for all ages to study.
In the Heart of Ancient Woodland
Epping Forest Field Centre is a purpose-built non residential centre located in a terrific Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation that provides excellent learning opportunities. It has excellent transport links and is only a few kilometres from the M25 and M11 and from Loughton Station (Central Line for London Undergro
Lake District
Castle Head Field Centre lies in its own extensive grounds between the southern fells of the Lake District and the shores of Morecambe Bay. The Centre has 120 beds and a number of large indoor spaces including 6 workrooms, student common rooms, a separate staff lounge and a sports hall.
Nurture in Nature
FSC Bishops Wood is an excellent base for primary school trips. At Bishops Wood Field Centre we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities for primary school children. From Literacy through landscape to wilderness bushcraft designed to encourage problem solving and teamwork.
Experience learning in the great outdoors with Magdalen. Magdalen Farm with its diverse landscape, animals and purpose-built residential centre provides a safe and secure environment to learn about organic farming, sustainability and nature.
We make sure your pupils get right up close to the amazing creatures in our themed displays. After all, the more they see the more they'll learn.
Here are just some of the highlights:
For school trips, excursions and European school tours for UK and overseas school groups
Ardmore Educational Travel, part of The Ardmore Group, offer over 100 educational school tours in 32 countries. We partner with schools to provide one-off tours, multiple tours or total extra curricular solutions for schools and students aged 11-18.
Explore. Discover. Become.
WorldStrides, formerly Casterbridge Tours, are an educational travel company specialising in customised educational group tours.
A wide range of natural and social history exhibits, the more exciting of which include the interactive dinosaur gallery and gardens, and the special family drop in sessions.
The English School of Falconry Bird of Prey and Conservation Centre is one of the largest bird of prey centres in the UK, home to over 200 birds of prey, varying in species of owls, hawks, eagles, falcons, hawks,kites and vultures. The centre is committed to the conservation of birds of prey and their habitats.
There's always something going on down on Hatfield Park Farm!
Come along and feed the traditional breeds of sheep and goats - we also have rare Bagot goats as seen on BBC Countryfile at Adam's Farm. There are ducks, geese, turkeys, Hungarian Woolly pigs and cattle too!
Hatfield House is the home of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and their family. The Estate has been in the Cecil family for 400 years. It is an incredible building with a vast estate to explore.
If you are looking for somewhere that is more like a home from home, with outdoor education programmes that are crafted with care, delivered by quality people, driven by our values of Education, Inspiration and Play; a place rooted in the rich heritage and tradition of learning outside – Great News! You have just found it.
Highly realistic models recall the landscape of the period and trains provide a fascinating record of the railways of the time and how they operated. Enjoy an informative and interactive 90 minute tour covering three indoor galleries.
Baylands Equestrian Centre is an Outreach Centre for the College of West Anglia providing recognised in-house equine training and qualifications.
Would you like a career in equine?
The Woodside Animal Welfare Trust is an animal rehoming charity based on the outskirts of Plymouth in Devon. The foundation of Woodside's broad field of work was begun in 1974 by Carole Bowles. Her significant contribution to animal welfare was finally recognised in 2000 when she was made an MBE by Her Majesty, The Queen.
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