Science for Schools
Our Head of Chemistry launched Science for Schools in autumn 2021. The three-week long programme ran for three schools and enabled over one hundred Year 6 children and their teachers to experience experiments in Charterhouse’s science labs. We plan to extend science for schools in 22-23.
Aims
The aim from the outset was to design a series of experiments which exposed pupils to unique and essential scientific skill-sets. The Chemistry session was designed to introduce pupils to safe laboratory practice and procedures. The Physics sessions was designed to introduce pupils to the investigative and hands-on nature of engineering and design. The Biology sessions was designed to introduce pupils to the ethics of handling living organisms in science.
Background
Our new Head of Chemistry had run science for schools in his last establishment and wanted to set it up with our existing local partners.
Since autumn 2021
Resources
The following are used and are critical to the success:
Charterhouse's labs
Charterhouse's science equipment and resources for the experiments.
A teacher and lab technician.
The school pays for transportation for the pupils and their accompanying staff @ £400/per week
Around 30 hours of staff time - to organise the sessions with the schools, order and set up equipment and teach the sessions (3 sessions for 3 schools).
Approximately £3000
Impact
Charterhouse teacher quotation: It has been a joy to share my love of practical science investigations with young pupils through Science for Schools. The sense of enjoyment of the visiting children in each of the three activities was truly palpable. The overriding personal aim was to provide pupils with the opportunity to ignite their love of Science in the way that led me to pursue my career in Chemistry, through hands-on and purposeful practical work.
Primary School teacher quotation: they have learnt so much…they are all incredibly excited to get into their secondary school science labs now and you have given us plenty of fab ideas to try in the classroom.
Year 6 quotations:
Thank you for teaching us chemistry, physics and biology. It was so much fun learning about different chemicals and maggots. My favourite part was making crystals and using the bunsen burners. I really want to do it again.
I really liked the green flame; it looked like something out of Hogwarts.
Science hasn’t always been my favourite subject but you made it so fun. I loved the lab, the watching sudden experiments and everything you showed us. I am really looking forward to doing science in secondary school!
Pupil Involvement
Pupils are in Year 6 and are boys and girls from local primary schools.
Frequency
Each group of pupils attends three sessions over three weeks.
We are planning to extend science for schools to existing and additional schools in 22-23.