At St Catherine's we are aiming to offer a learning experience to visiting schools and groups that uses the landscape as a personal stimulus for the wider issues of sustainability.
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
The Imperial War Museum, London has been newly refurbished and now features a vast array of weapons and vehicles as well as a range of exhibitions, including RAF planes, tanks and amphibious vehicles.
Offering tours of the steam pumping engines, rides on London's only narrow gauge railway, education in the Waterworks interactive gallery, and the Splashzone hands on water engineering play lab!
Come and discover the story of London's water supply and witness stationary steam pumping engines in action.
Today’s railway represents 200 years of engineering inspiration, innovation and determination; the work that Network Rail does today is the next chapter in this astounding story.
The Online Archive
Who said school can't be jam-packed with thrills? Not us!
When students are enjoying a lesson it shows. It shows in their attention levels, in the effort they put in and the results they achieve. The Education Programme at THORPE PARK Resort offers maximum educational value through unique and stimulating learning experiences.
The 1000-acres of Park and Forest at Moors Valley have something for everyone.
A 210 hectare nature reserve with a diverse mosaic of habitats including marshes, ponds, pools, woods and grasslands. Find the Kingfisher Tearooms nestled in the middle of the reserve serving delicious homemade food. Lots of accessible paths and hides to view the brilliant wildlife. Take a session out with the education team to find out more!
A quirky little museum, with 3 floor that are jam packed with items from popular British Culture from Victorian times to present day. Fascinating for the kids, and possibly nostalgic for the adults!
The museum is run by a friendly husband and wife team, who have dedicated their lives to building and maintaining this incredible collection.
Horse riding lessons at Sherwood Riding school are great activities for kids.
It's a Nottinghamshire riding school with a difference, BHSI Instructor Sam and her team make learning to ride a horse easy and fun.
Our aim is to enable young people to develop through taking part in outdoor activities in a fun and safe environment. This simple aim has led us to develop our Centre that rivals commercially run Centres in terms of both facilities and activity provision.
As we are a charity we are able to maintain excellent value for money.
See a bus so old it was pulled along the street by horses. Get behind the driver's seat of our tube train simulator, experience journeys of a bygone era. Your only problem will be trying to fit it all in!
School Trips
Opened in 1865 the Watercress Line connected rural Hampshire to the heart fo London by rail. It got its name from the fresh produce it carried to the city making the movement of fresh produce in bulk a realistic possibility allowing urbanisation and fuelling the Industrial Revolution.
The brand new Belfairs Woodland Centre offers your school the perfect base to discover the natural world. With guidance from our skilled education team, children will experience hands-on learning in both an exciting and safe environment.
EYFS:
Exploring Senses, Pond Power, Go on a Bug Hunt, Teddy Bears Picnic, Natural Art
Ulley provides students the opportunity to develop new skills in a Safe and Fun environment. Students are encouraged to grow and progress in a time and space that suits their needs, with Learning and Progress at the heart of all the programmes.
This is the advanced design and engineering facility and home to Land Rover design. It also boasts the UK's largest hybrid engineering team. It is also the Global headquarters of JLR.
Our primary focus is to offer a wide range of opportunities in the outdoors to young people and adults (primarily for the 13 to 19 year olds but some are good for as young as 8) across the area through a series of development courses and through our club membership.
Our experienced team will guide you through unique destinations, where you can embrace different cultures, amazing wildlife, beautiful secluded landscapes and explore our enchanting planet.
So much more than just tanks!
The tank was a British invention that changed warfare for ever when it was introduced in the First World War and Bovington has been the home of the tank ever since.
At The Tank Museum we bring the history of tanks and tank crew to life… Supported by the world’s best collection of tanks & action packed live displays.
The technology behind communication has changed the world. Mobiles, fibre optics, the World Wide Web, radio and television would not have been possible without the development of the telegraph and early wireless technology.
An outdoor activity centre set on the River Thames in Marlow. We offer both land and water activities for all the family. As a charity we try to provide a real community hub that everyone can experience outdoor activities for low cost.
Longridge Activity Centre offers a range of both land and water activities including:
Cromford Mill, the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill, was built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright. From then until around 1790, he continued to develop the mills, warehouses and workshops, which now form the Cromford Mills site.
Considered as a whole it presents a remarkable picture of an early textile factory complex.
We have an excellent international reputation for our marine courses with superb facilities including boatbuilding and engineering workshops, a dedicated marine science lab and a well equipped watersports centre. Our tutors combine industry experience with academic expertise and are active in their field through research and personal interest in their subjects.
Longrigg is an educational study and adventure centre in Cumbria. Our aim is to provide rewarding outdoor experiences for young people and adults.
We offer a wide range of outdoor activities including Duke of Edinburgh and Mountain Training Leadership courses.
Your programme might include a variety of the following :
Featuring the iconic skyline of Pen y Fan, Corn Du and Cribyn
The Brecon Beacons offer a spectacular landscape rich in natural beauty. Free from light and noise pollution it's the perfect respite from the chaos of modern life. Whether you're seeking challenging walks, wide open spaces or secluded waterfalls, the Brecon Beacons provides the best of them all.
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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.
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