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)
The Harrington Aviation Museums comprise the Carpetbagger Aviation and Secret War Museum and the Northamptonshire Aviation Society Museum.
These museums offer a rare look at life on this Top Secret base of the 801st/492nd American Eighth Air Force Bombardment Group during World War 2.
Perfect for those interested in locomotives and kids who just want to see something fun and different. Running on coal fired steam and diesel engines, you'll enjoy your ride, taking in all the sights as you head down the tracks.
A museum with over 50 micro cars from the 50s and 60s, plus scooters on display, a row of recreated shops to explore, and loads of memorabilia to look at.
Some of these displays are pretty entertaining, and others are through provoking.
The future of this special place is so important to us that we have partnered with the National Trust (and give them a percentage of your money) and we have a detailed eco policy, in order to give something back to the environment that we are privileged to share with you.
Learning at our outdoor education centre makes Mill on the Brue a perfect environment to inspire people. With over 40 activities to choose on our 25 acre estate, we can tailor-make your programme to suit the needs and requirements of your group.
A highly unusual, but enjoyable way to explore the Cotswolds, by camel! A great trek with friendly guides, who lead the camels at all times. Available throughout the year, but weather dependent.
Joseph's Amazing Camels offers a 3 hour camel experience, which includes a trek through beautiful Warwickshire countryside for groups of up to 16 people.
Castle Howard is Yorkshire's finest stately home and garden near York. Grand interiors, gardens and an adventure playground make for a great family day out.
Croxteth Hall is situated in a beautiful Country Park setting and is one of Liverpool's most important heritage sites.
The Country Park is also home to a real working Home Farm, a Victorian Walled Garden and a 500 acre nature reserve - all open to the public.
The Robey Trust , based at the New Perseverance Ironworks, is a charity dedicated to continuing the traditions of the Robey Engineering Company of Lincoln. This involves not only the maintenance in working order of many Robey engines, the vast majority of them steam engines, but also continuing and transmitting to coming generations the expertise required to preserve and run these machines.
Based in an eco-refurbished Victorian former terraced house in Sheffield, South Yorkshire Energy Centre (SYEC) demonstrates the practicalities of Green refurbishment and renewable energy and offers advice, training, education, consultancy and project management to a wide variety of clients, as well as providing Sheffield's first Green Building Service.
Explore the museum’s large, outstanding collections and trace the fascinating history of Mid Devon. The displays include the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ GWR steam engine, local industries (particularly lace making), farm waggons and the history of agriculture, and the every day home life of Mid Devon folk.
Take a ride on this fun narrow gauge railway that trundles through the heart of Sherwood Forest which runs for one mile through the area's farm land with two crossings a tunnel and a couple of stations cute 5/8ths scale locomotives the kids will love pulling open carriages behind them.
Welcome to our newly renovated education centre in a historic stable block, with purpose-built dipping pond, tree trail, arable fields and recently-planted orchard. Children can explore our 300 year-old farm and our varied woodland.
The South Devon Railway is one of Devon’s and the West Country’s best loved tourist attractions and is the longest established steam railway in the south west.
The mansion, at the heart of this estate, is evidence of Elsie Bambridge's success in creating a home. Elsie was the daughter of acclaimed author Rudyard Kipling.
White knuckle and family rides, toddler fun and fantastic family shows, including live entertainment and animal antics. New Feature: Furry Friends Farm and Tractor Ride!
Pleasure Island Theme Park is still the best value day out on the East Coast with its fantastic package of over 50 rides and attractions including their newest feature Furry Friends Farm and Tractor Ride!
A full programme of events throughout the day including: Meet and Feed the Animals, Free Tractor and Trailer Rides, Children's Craft Sessions, Animal Racing, 2 Acre Willow Maze and Indoor and Outdoor Adventure Play Areas. Themed weeks during school holidays.A great family day out, come rain or shine.
Superb facilities: indoor and outdoor animals and play zones, crazy golf, bouncy castle, ringo slope, tractor rides and much more.
Whoosh down the fake snow slopes on inflatable ringos! Dig to Australia in the giant sandpit, and get your rev on with the pedal tractors! All under cover!
The sanctuary has a 'cuddle corner' where adults and children may handle baby rabbits, chicks, ducklings, kittens and new born mice and gerbils (when in season). A great place to take toddlers, Early Yeears and Primary children in particular if you are looking for visits out in Oxfordshire.
With adventure play areas, zip wires, rides, a 25m bouncy pillow, stilt walking, a haystack mountain, pig racing, archery and our children's shows. There's plenty to keep children occupied all day at Apple Jacks! You can even challenge your opponent on the Eliminator!
Lambing weekends in the spring, monthly country food fayres, and we have our famous and unique 'living manger' prior to Christmas.
A farm with plenty of animals to meet and handle, such as piglets, lambs, pygmy goats and more. Adventure playground, go karts and tractors, indoor soft play, and pony rides. Under 2s visit free.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust is the leading environmental charity in Cheshire offering high quality environmental education field trips and sessions to schools or community groups.
This fifty-acre site with its magnificent Georgian workhouse invites you to explore two centuries of life on the land. There are recreations of shops and homes, extensive displays on farming and village life and the popular Collections Gallery - a real treasure trove.
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.