Serious Fun on Saturdays in Harrow
The grant recipient
Park High is a state funded secondary school and a member of the North Executive, a partnership of three independent and ten state schools in the London boroughs of Harrow and Enfield.
The Exodus from the Earth programme
- 12 Saturday morning sessions, focusing on physics and using scientific enquiry that is not covered in depth or at all in the national curriculum
- for 60 gifted students in year 8 (12-13 year olds) from 10 state secondaries
- learning includes: investigation of rocket launches and trajectories; composition of the atmosphere; extreme forces on organs of the body; motion; different life forms; DNA and the environment
- taught by specialists from the independent and state sectors and taking place in the brand new science labs at John Lyon school, an independent school in Harrow
- aiming to encourage participation in scientific practice; make science exciting and meaningful and stimulate take up and achievement in the sciences at GCSE
Latest results
- One school reported that all the students on the programme outperformed similar students in the year group.
- 86% of participants said they enjoyed all the sessions.
The funding
SHINE has made a grant for development and running costs. The schools are also providing in-kind and financial support for the programme.
Funding: £59,766 to Park High School, over three years (2008-11)
"The first session was a great success. Teaching colleagues were excellent and the students progressed with reference to their learning and enjoyment of science."
Teacher, John Lyon School
Quotes
"The first session was a great success. Teaching colleagues were excellent and the students progressed with reference to their learning and enjoyment of science."
Teacher, John Lyon School