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)
A group visit to Woodside Animal Farm gives you full access to all our daily activities facilities plus some extra special care to make your day unforgettable. For 20 paying people or more we offer a great value day out, which we can tailor to suit your needs.
Starting from just £4 person your school or group will receive:
Education Destination is an Isle of Wight based business specialising in providing bespoke, curriculum-focused school trips to our lovely island. We help you create outstanding curriculum-led learning visits to the Isle of Wight and can provide a full door-to-door service, taking care of all your requirements, or simply support you in making your own arrangements.
20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's library and study, preserved as it was in his lifetime. It contains his working library, his desk and the famous couch.
Education
York Museums Trust’s award-winning* museums and art gallery offer inspiring, interactive and hands-on learning opportunities that directly support the National Curriculum.
We welcome school groups to York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum and the Yorkshire Museum & Gardens and offer help and advice to parties who wish to visit.
Unlock your students imaginations with the trip of a lifetime, as only Topflight can do it.
Visit Carymoor for a unique and unforgettable experience! At Carymoor we bring green issues to life all year round using our remarkable site which combines a working landfill site with a beautiful nature reserve, sensory and wild flower gardens, replica shanty town, Celtic roundhouse, forest school area and a sustainably built Education Centre.
The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the management the Forest. It is the best starting point for finding out about the Forest, what you can see, and where you can go.
Education
We deliver quality foreign tours and skiing trips with a difference
Why travel with Select School Travel?
Two discrete centres within 26 acres of private woodland, surrounded by 200 acres of public woodland, overlooking the seaside town of Sheringham.
Hilltop primarily offers comprehensive outdoor educational opportunities to Primary and Middle schools and Sixth Form / Further Education Colleges.
A family theme park designed to cater for families with children between the age of two and thirteen. All its rides and attractions are designed to offer the whole family a full day out of fun and excitement.
Adventure Land, Toy Land, Discovery Bay and more! All of which combine to keep even the most active of children occupied for a full day.
Both motorsports and aviation are celebrated at the Brooklands Museum.
20 miles south west of central London, with its famous banked corners Brooklands was at the centre of British motorsport before the Second World War. It was the world's first purpose built motor racing circuit.
Visit the Garlic Farm and learn all about garlic, where it comes from, how to grow your own and how to cook with it.
Taste all of our unique and delicious products from garlic chutneys to garlic beer and ice cream in our taste experience before you buy.
The Eden Project consists of 50m-tall Biomes, which house the world's largest indoor rainforest.
The Eden Project is an exciting attraction where you can explore your relationship with nature, learn new things and get inspiration about the world around you.
Northumberland National Park Authority is a conservation organisation. National Park status is the highest form of landscape protection in the UK. Of the 11 National Parks in England and Wales, Northumberland is the most northerly, most remote from large urban areas, least visited and least populated.
Rookesbury House is a stunning former stately home situated at the top of a hill amidst a 2000 acre private estate. With its grand entrance through the gate keeper’s lodge and the drive sweeps through fields of arable crops to the house, you can be sure of a secure and calming setting at this former prestigious boarding school.
The fun starts the moment you arrive, with all the rides, the trail and the challenges it’s the perfect way to have some quality family time and get that all important exercise for everyone.
Unique learning experience
When you bring your school to the museum you can take part in one of our lively, informative and hands on sessions. All of our sessions are delivered by a member of our Education Team and allow all students to handle original museum artifacts.
Glachbeg provides day programmes for schools and other groups using a tool box of resources which include a sustainable classroom, Shetland Cattle, sheep, poultry, small mammals, woodland, ponds, garden, fruit, cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice cream making, spinning, etc etc .
Finkley Down Farm is a fun-filled family experience for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Visitors can enjoy an exciting educational day out, with hands on activities with our animals. We have an abundance of different animals from large and small, to fluffy, feathery and even scaly!
At Nene Park Trust, we believe that an opportunity to participate in outdoor educational activities will enhance the learning experience of all children.
From the Discovery Den, our education centre at Ferry Meadows, we offer a range of educational activities, designed by qualified teachers, to tie in with National Curriculum requirements at all levels.
Durham Wildlife Trust wants to inspire and excite people of all ages in nature and the great outdoors.
We have been operating since 2007 and are currently a 60-acre traditional mixed working farm with beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. A well as being a real working farm, we also have zoo status, recognising our commitment to the welfare and conservation of exotic species.
Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. As well as rehoming dogs from one of our 20 Rehoming Centres, a large part of our work is to focus on Responsible Dog Ownership and Safety Around Dogs education. Dogs Trust Education Officers are available to deliver FREE interactive and engaging workshops to primary schools throughout the UK.
An award-winning attraction with plenty for everyone to see and do, including our huge indoor adventure play area ‘DINOMITE’, plenty of animal handling sessions, large outdoor play areas, the Secret Animal Garden and Deer Safari, as well as the Dinosaur Trail and Neanderthal Walk.
Welcome to Lyme Park. Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme Park was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.
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.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.