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)
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is home to rhinos, giraffe, leopards, tigers, elephants and lions - all the biggest zoo animals!
We also have 12 huge indoor and outdoor play areas.
You can get hands on with the farm animals and learn more about the wildlife from our zookeepers at one of the Zookeeper Talks.
School Visits
Blackpool Zoo is the perfect destination for your school or group. Outdoor, healthy exercise combined with a unique learning experience and over 1000 animals. Education programmes are curriculum-led from Nursery to post-graduate and extra experiences are available for non-uniform groups. We also offer discounts on admission for school groups.
Learning through discovery is just one of the reasons to book your group visit to Willows Farm Village.
The Village depicts rural England in the 1930s and is a miniature wonderland which delights children of all ages. Buy a quiz (over 5s and under 5s) from our shop and enjoy answering the questions as you wander around.
Use your imagination in this unique world of make-believe that has delighted generations of visitors.
A Tudor farm, steeped in history, surrounded by a lovely park that is full of informal walks with plenty of wildlife to enjoy.
The animals are always around to meet in the enclosures and include Norfolk Black Turkeys, pigs, Shropshire sheep, Hereford cattle, plus a number of chickens, guinea fowl, ducks and geese!
A great park with things to do for all the family including a skate park and miniature golf! Ride the miniature railway for a great experience!
A friendly farm park with a host of attractions for all ages. Including a petting farm, adventure playground, zip slide, trampolines, an all-weather indoor play barn, restaurant and shop. The park provides a safe environment perfect for little ones.
Features include an adventure playground, picnic sites, BBQ stands and bird watching area. Also the starting point for numerous self-guided walking and family cycling trails, including routes for people with disabilities.
A pottery painting craft studio based in the heart of Leamington Spa. You can come to the studio to pottery paint, we have a large selection of items to choose. We also make jewellery, decopatch, mosaic, and glass paint. We run kids' parties, hen groups also.
We cater for individuals and small groups of any age. We have disabled and baby changing facilities.
A complete off road Pony Trekking Centre. All Weather riding all year round, even in the snow! Disabled customers catered for, Treks suitable for all levels of rider available, We cater for ages 4 upwards.
Look out for the Buzzards and Herons flying overhead whilst taking a trail ride around the Nature Reserve or a cheeky woodpecker in the woods!
A free museum about the history of Oxford and its people. Families can explore the interactive galleries and come along to monthly family craft workshops in the learning centre to handle real objects.
Museum of Oxford offers fun and interactive galleries for families to explore local history of Oxford and its people; including an interactive touch screen.
Wood Lane is a man-made nature reserve on restored quarry workings. A visit here offers the unique opportunity to combine wildlife sessions with a tour of the working sand and gravel quarry, active landfill site and the largest material recycling facility in Europe.Toilets, disabled access, classroom, coach parking.
Activity examples:
The Boathouse occupies a beautiful spot overlooking The Mere in Ellesmere. Each spring, herons nest on Moscow Island and our cameras catch all the action. Experts are on hand to answer questions and can provide educational sessions on these amazing birds.
Llama trekking in the Peak District is the ideal way to spend a day out with a difference. These graceful animals are the perfect walking companion - not too fast, not too slow and with the added bonus of carrying your excess baggage!
Shropshire based petting farm and zoo with over 150 different species of animal. Indoor and outdoor demonstrations take place daily including lamb feeding, sheep racing; meet the meerkats and egg collecting. The farm also has an indoor and outdoor play area, cafe and gift shop.
A farm park, petting farm, indoor soft play, outdoor play, nature park, wildlife encounters, adventure play, working farm, cafe, educational centre, rare breeds farm, adventure play, children’s birthday parties.
Llama trekking is fast becoming a 'must-do' activity. Bond with your llama, get to know him and take him on a walk in the glorious countryside of south west Herefordshire. If travelling from further afield, why not take a two day stay in one of our holiday cottages?
Although you can't actually ride them, these lovely pack animals will willingly carry your rucksack, whilst you enjoy the beautiful scenery. What better way to get away from it all than by leading a gentle llama along bridleways, farm tracks and country lanes.
A farm park with a difference, featuring an enchanted walk, adventure playground and our collection of farm and exotic animals. Everything is designed with disabled children in mind, but Fairytale Farm can be enjoyed by everybody.
The Plym Valley consists of varied habitats from riverside meadows, ancient woodland and the wilderness of Dartmoor. Car parks at Plymbridge, Cadover Bridge and Shaugh Prior provide good starting points to explore the area on foot or bike.
Some 300 Bronze Age and medieval sites, covering 15 1⁄2 square kilometres (6 square miles) of Dartmoor landscape.
The house was rescued from neglect and lovingly restored by the three Keating sisters, who bought it in 1938.
The views from the grounds and gardens across Cardigan Bay are among the most spectacular in Britain.
Set on the shores of the Menai Strait amidst breathtakingly beautiful scenery, this elegant house was redesigned by James Wyatt in the 18th century.
A fascinating chance to get closer to nature. Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change.
Neptune Sailing has been part of Suffolk Water Sports Association and is a Recognised Training Centre for the RYA. It has been working with Neptune Youth Group and those keen to learn to sail in the local community for many years. The Centre has been divested from SWSA to Neptune Sailing Management Committee. It has been awarded charitable status.
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.