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.

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 0844 335 1737 or emailing [email protected].

 

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

 

For a complete list of venues and providers who deliver specialist courses and activities for this subject see below

Tintern Old Station

Venue Type: 
Transport
Overall Rating: 
0

The site features a riverside walk and meadows, children's play area, picnic site with barbeques, tearoom, souvenir shop, tourist information and a secluded basic camp site. The signal box houses changing exhibitions from local artists and crafts people.

Built as a Victorian country railway station, the Old Station, Tintern is a charming site to visit for a quiet relaxing day out or to start your walk through the beautiful Wye Valley.

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Grimsbury Farm

Venue Type: 
Farms
Overall Rating: 
4

Situated in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, Grimsbury Farm has a variety of animals, a playground, a picnic area and a café.

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The Handsam Boat Company

Venue Type: 
Tours
Overall Rating: 
0

Offering jaunts down the River Avon either by guided covered group tour, private hire motor boat or a family sized row boat. Departing from the award winning Abbey Park.

Take your pick from a 25 minute trip on the large vessel which visits Evesham Lock and passes Hampton Church; a private hire 4 stroke outboard motor boat; or a row boat, which is suitable for up to 4 people and you are given buoyancy aids and basic instruction.

There is a natural element of weather dependency but not so much with the larger vessel as all the seating is under cover.

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Wyre Forest Discovery Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
0
Wyre Forest Discovery Centre hosts the "education centre of excellence". Curriculum linked activities and a variety of adult craft and wildlife focus days are available including high wires and muddy games!

Fantastic Go Ape course for the over 10s: think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Can you climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan Swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges? If the answer' yes, you're ready to Go Ape!

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All Things Wild Nature Centre

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

All Things Wild Nature Centre at The Domestic Fowl Trust is set in the beautiful Vale of Evesham in the Worcestershire countryside, and is the perfect place for you to relax, learn and enjoy yourself.

It caters for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between! Not only does it have a large array of animals ranging from stunning peacocks through llamas, day-old chicks and weasels to exotic green iguanas, but it also has all the facilities you would need and expect.

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Staunton Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Have a rainforest experience in the Victorian glasshouses, get lost in the maze, follow one of our trails or enjoy the beautiful gardens. Visit the farm or have fun in our fantastic new play barn.

Education and Learning

Staunton is a unique site that will enable you to teach the many areas of the curriculum all in a single location! The Education Programme is led by a dedicated team. Recognising that the programme will attract a wide range of differing needs, we are able to offer you a choice of options to suit your requirements.

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Lauderdale House

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

Built in 1582 as a Merchant's House and set in the beautiful Waterlow Park, Lauderdale House is a Grade II listed building and now runs primarily as an arts and education centre, welcoming over 65,000 visitors each year.

Exhibitions & Fairs

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Gladstone's Land

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

The house of wealthy merchant and landlord Thomas Gledstanes showcases high-rise living, 17th-century style, at the beating heart of Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile.

Primary school parties (ages 3-7) can book a visit to Gladstone's Land by phoning 0131 226 5856.

Tours last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Children are given an introduction to 17th-century Edinburgh in our education room. The children get into 17th-century costume over their own clothes.

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Hatton Country World

Venue Type: 
Farms
Overall Rating: 
0

An unforgettable day of fun, action, new experiences and a bit of learning for families with children up to the age of 12 in a lovely, safe and happy environment. Lots of indoor activities, a daily programme of shows and different seasonal events whenever the kids are on holiday – from Easter Eggstravaganza through to Winter Wonderland.

From Zip wires to Adventurers Assault Course, from Fun Fair Rides and Frisbee Golf to an adventure on Timewarp Tractor, there's oodles of outdoor play and activities at Hatton.

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Brent Lodge Park Animal Centre

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

What's on offer?

The centre houses a wide variety of animals including: 

  • exotic birds

  • mammals including meerkats, porcupine, prairie dogs and mara

  • domestic species including rabbits, chickens and kune kune pigs 

The centre is a small award winning zoo.

Education

We offer a number of education programmes for primary school pupils at the animal centre and an outreach programme. 

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