National network to improve science teaching

Citation

(2004), "National network to improve science teaching", Education + Training, Vol. 46 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2004.00446bab.005

National network to improve science teaching

National network to improve science teaching

The Department for Education and Skills and the Wellcome Trust have announced the seven organizations appointed to run the first Science Learning Centres. This £51 million government-charity initiative will create a national network to deliver continuing professional development to science teachers and technicians. The Science Learning Centres network will consist of up to nine regional centres, which will open in October 2004, and one national centre, based in York, due to open in autumn 2005. All of the centres will aim to:

• •

  offer teachers access to newly-furbished laboratories and advanced ICT equipment;

• •

  provide courses covering traditional science and the wider ethical issues of science in society, cutting-edge scientific research and developments across business and industry; and

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  reinvigorate teaching skills, boost science literacy and understanding of its impact on society among pupils.

Alan Johnson, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, said: "Science education in the UK ranks among the finest in the world, but the speed of scientific development means that if we are to retain this position, all science teachers need to be familiar with contemporary ways to inspire their students both as citizens and scientists of the future. Through our close partnership with the Wellcome Trust, we feel that the Science Learning Centres will provide a catalyst to bring together educators, scientists and industry to offer teachers innovative thinking and advanced resources, benefiting science education and society."

Dr Mark Walport, Wellcome Trust Director, said: "Today's young people are tomorrow's scientists. We run the risk of the UK's scientific talent drying up unless we inspire them now and give them the confidence to understand, debate and question issues that may emerge in the future. Schools have an essential contribution to make. We are delighted that, in partnership with the DfES, we are creating a network that will provide teachers and other educators with access to the resources and expertise to get to grips with the complexities of contemporary science."

The seven appointed centre leaders are:

1. 1.

   The National Science Learning Centre (based in York): the White Rose University Consortium, comprising of the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York and Sheffield Hallam.

2. 2.

   Science Learning Centre London: the Institute of Education in partnership with the Science Museum, Birkbeck University and University College London.

3. 3.

   Science Learning Centre Eastern: the University of Hertfordshire in partnership with the ASE, Hertfordshire LEA, Bio-Rad Laboratories and SETPOINT Hertfordshire.

4. 4.

   Science Learning Centre South East: the University of Southampton.

5. 5.

   Science Learning Centre East Midlands: the University of Leicester in partnership with the University of Nottingham and Bishop Grosseteste College.

6. 6.

   Science Learning Centre Yorkshire and Humberside: the White Rose University Consortium, comprising of Sheffield Hallam University, University of Leeds, University of York and University of Sheffield.

7. 7.

   Science Learning Centre North West: Manchester Metropolitan University in partnership with St Martin's College Lancaster and SETPOINT Greater Manchester.

Sir Gareth Roberts has been appointed to chair the Science Learning Centres co-ordinators' group. "I welcome the Government's commitment to improving science teachers' access to high-quality and relevant continuing professional development", he said. "I believe that this initiative, taken together with the acceptance of other recommendations in my review, SET for Success, will have a significant beneficial effect on their teaching and will also act to improve retention."