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:

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

Venues for this Curriculum

Relive the RAF's role in the First World War!

This world-class collection of over 100 aircraft and aviation memorabilia offers a fun, educational day out for all ages. Fuel their imaginations and let them navigate their way through the history of the RAF and aviation.

An urban oasis for wildlife and people

London Wetland Centre brings the countryside to London and was voted the UK's Favourite Nature Reserve by the public in the Countryfile Magazine Awards 2012. Although close to the heart of the capital it is a haven of tranquility for both wildlife and people. 

Over 2 million LEGO® bricks under one roof!

The sky’s the limit at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester.  It’s the ideal place to let your class experience a world of fun, creativity and imagination.

Love Nature, Love Pensthorpe

Norfolk's Best Visitor Attraction Winner 2014!

Our mission is to transform the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

See how firefighting has developed over the last 340 years

Built in 1820, Winchester House on Southwark Bridge Road was home and workplace to London's chief fire officers between 1878 and 1937.

This building now houses one of the most comprehensive collections of firefighting equipment and memorabilia in the country.

A fascinating insight into Grimsby's maritime history - Our Heritage

The museum is suitable for all ages, we also have an easy access route. Many interactive displays and get dressed up as a fisherman or apprentice boy.

Waterperry Gardens are a magical place where you are surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, classical borders, modern planting, secret corners and long vistas.

Home to the renowned horticultural college between 1932 and 1971, the emphasis was on food production rather than spectacular ornamental gardens.

From Where The Battle of Britain Was Won

RAF Bentley Priory played a pivotal role during the Battle of Britain as Headquarters Fighter Command.

With splendour, colour and glorious craftsmanship, enter the world of Scotland's Renaissance Kings & Queens

Step into a world of plots, passion, intrigue and high fashion with the people of the palace.

Stirling Castle is a great symbol of Scottish independence & a source of national pride. Knights, nobles and foreign ambassadors once flocked to the Royal Court at Stirling Castle to revel in the castle's grandeur.

Every year we engage thousands of people of all ages with their local environment where they make a positive difference to their community.

We manage 26 nature reserves around the county totaling almost 3,500 acres. We carry out conservation projects to create and restore habitats for wildlife, to ensure that the county's wild creatures have se

The Shropshire Wildlife Trust's aim is to give all children opportunities to enjoy being outside and discovering wildlife, so although the base is at the visitor centre we operate many activities in woodland nearby.

The Saturday craft fairs at our Visitor Centre are free to enter and include activities for children. We also offer a weekday range of arts and crafts workshops for all.

Saving Species from Extinction

We work with some of the most endangered animals across the world in countries such as Galapagos, India, Madagascar and the Caribbean Islands, taking action within the animal’s habitats and securing their future through captive breeding or research within our wildlife park.

Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve is a peaceful place, with a rich variety of wildlife in its woodland, fen and reed bed habitats. Located in the beautiful Wensum Valley, the reserve is nationally and internationally recognised as important for its wildlife.

Our work at Shaldon Wildlife Trust is vital to the long-term survival of many animals which are at risk of extinction in their natural habitat.

Every year thousands of young people take part in the exciting and varied wildlife and environmental education activities offered by the Centre of the Earth.

Set in a stunning nature reserve of 461 acres which comprises woodland, meadows, lakes and former plotland gardens. There are beautiful wildlife gardens and a museum of Plotland Life.

It offers the visitor real peace and quiet and a chance to escape from it all. A wide range of habitats are on view here, including grassland, heathland and ponds.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is the county's leading conservation charity run by local people for the benefit of local wildlife, with over 70 nature reserves - part of a UK network of 47 local Wildlife Trusts working to protect wildlife.

Which Side Will You Choose?

It was Britain's deadliest conflict and one which shaped our modern world. Why did brother take up arms against brother and how did a once all-powerful monarch lose his head to the axeman?

A unique Capability Brown Folly Tower in an inspiring location

Graphic displays on three floors, roof viewing platform and Tower Shop are a must for Cotswold visits.

Broadway Tower is one of England's outstanding viewpoints and at 1024 feet (312m) above sea level, it is the second highest point on the Cotswold escarpment. Unrivalled views survey an expanse of a 62 mile radius and as many as 16 Counties.

Futuroscope is the intelligent theme park. It is designed with education in mind and is one of France’s most visited attractions, being based upon multimedia, cinematographic futuroscope and audio-visual techniques. Situated in the heart of the superb Poitou-Charentes region of western France, Futuroscope offers a unique experience for any school group.

A grocery store from the last century presenting the visitor with a time capsule of days gone by when personal service and home deliveries were the order of the day.

The museum is owned and managed by the Tamar Protection Society - an environmental group which manages an additional museum of Tudor Elizabethan life and gardening at Mary Newman's Cottage.

Cardiff Bay is a diverse waterfront built around a 200 hectare freshwater lake known as ‘the Bay’. Find a great mix of Cardiff attractions, entertainment and events, coupled with vibrant bars and shops that create a truly unique atmosphere worthy of any capital city!

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Latest News

British schoolgirl assaulted on school trip to Iceland

hotel corridor

A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.

Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.

The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.