Primary & secondary schools programmes – collaboration of schools & industry in the Region North-West of England

1. The Children Challenging Industry (CCI)

project is administered by the Chemical Industry Education Centre (CIEC) at York University. Chemicals Northwest funds the project in the NW, and hosts and supports the Advisory Teacher. The Children Challenging Industry (CCI) project was started in 1996 after a Mori Poll indicated that perceptions of the chemical industry had hit an all time low. This project aims to create enthusiasm for learning science amongst primary school children (mainly ages 10 and 11) by providing classroom-based training for the teaching of the National Curriculum for Science. This, and liaison with local science-based manufacturing companies, enables pupils to see how the science they learn at school is used in a 'real life' context. The science taught is relevant to the school curriculum and uses the chemical industry as the context. CCI employs advisory teachers who go into primary schools and help the class teacher to teach science to the children that has industrial links, provide experiments that can be conducted in the classroom and arrange for the children to visit industry to see how the science they have been taught is applied in the real world of industry. This work is vital in helping to change attitudes and CIEC has undertaken research which shows that CCI has a lasting impact.

For further information:

• Chemical Industry Education Centre www.ciec.org.uk
• Children Challenging Industry www.cciproject.org

2. Collaboration Schools and Industry (CoSI) Programme

is a secondary school programme run on behalf of Chemicals Northwest by Business Education Matters. This programme consist of two different schemes:

• The CoSI Science for Life Scheme has been designed to improve students’ awareness and understanding of the work of scientists in industry and show how aspects of science in industry relate to their school science courses. The main focus is science curriculum focussed and, following teacher placements into the company, materials/exercises/activities are developed relating to the company that actively support specific science course specifications in the school/college. The range of materials and activities produced are quite wide and materials developed by the teachers and examples of student work are made available to other schools via the CNW website.
• The CoSI Positive Perceptions of Industry Scheme has been designed to improve students’ perceptions of science and of engineering-based industry. It is based on the idea that the reason many students do not go on to do post-16 science/engineering courses and degrees, or training in industry, is there very poor image and negative beliefs about science, studying science, and about industry and engineering based careers. However, changing such negative perceptions involves rather more than just providing relevant information. Using a small group of sixth form students the Scheme involves using perception change processes and powerful student-student interactions.

For further information:
www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk

3. Catalyst Science and Discovery Centre (based in Widnes).

Catalyst is the only science centre (and museum) solely devoted to chemistry and how the products of chemistry are used in everyday life - from medicine to meccano. Their key aim is to inform people of all ages about the chemical industry and its role in our lives, past present and future. Catalyst is a great action-packed family attraction with an excellent educational focus. Schools visit during term time take advantage of their curriculum based education programme and they run an excellent Saturday Science Club for children.

For further information:
www.catalyst.org.uk