Pupils Investigate Science with Help from University of Worcester

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Schoolchildren exhibited the results of science projects they have been working on at home and in their school for a special Science Fair at the University of Worcester.

This was part of a scheme called the "Worcester Primary Partnership", supported by The Ogden Trust and the University of Worcester, to get more youngsters engaged in science.

The Fair, organised by Janinne Delorenzo, who leads the Worcester Primary Partnership and works in the University's Institute of Education, involved a number of schools across Worcester who had spent time researching, and investigating a range of science-related topics.

These also included looking at which materials were the best insulators, using different sized parachutes to measure the effect of air resistance, building circuits to investigate electricity, researching the planets and the principles of flight.

Pupils from Perdiswell Primary School, Northwick Manor Primary School, Whittington Church of England Primary School, Hollymount School, St Georges Church of England Primary School, Chaddesley Corbett Endowed Primary School and Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit, were all invited to the University to reveal their projects.

The schools had held mini competitions prior to the day and the best projects were exhibited at the University's Riverside building.

Pupils had the chance to see all the winning projects and ask questions.

Teacher Ben Wilkes, from Birchensale Middle School, Redditch, also delivered an interactive science show on the theme of flight to open the event.

The event came about through The Ogden Trust's partnership with the University of Worcester, which all these schools are part of. Through this partnership, the University of Worcester provides a network of support for teaching physics to primary school pupils, including teacher training, events, workshops and activities.

West Midlands STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Ambassador Hub, which is run by the University of Worcester and aims to inspire more children into a STEM career were also there to support the Science Fair.

A number of its STEM Ambassadors, which included University of Worcester science academics and students and other science experts, spoke to the children about the projects they were working on.

Matt Bourne, a teacher at Perryfields, said: "I thought the arrangement was ace and pitched at exactly the right level. My pupil loved it and was so proud of himself."

Annie Tauk, a teacher at Northwick Manor Primary School, added: "The showcase was fantastic. My Year 4 pupils absolutely loved the whole thing including the opportunity to talk to children from other schools and look at their work."