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Support from Government important to help science centres
meet demand for learning activities outside classrooms.
In response to the Learning Outside Classroom Manifesto launched by Alan
Johnson, Education and Skills Secretary, on 28 November 2006:
At-Bristol science centre urges the Government to give closer attention to
funding non-profit organisations, particularly science centres, which play
a critical role in supporting the Government’s new Learning Outside
Classroom Manifesto.
According to Goery Delacote, Chief Executive, At-Bristol science centre.
‘The manifesto is an excellent idea in gathering strengths across the
country to encourage schools to embrace learning through experience.
At-Bristol certainly welcomes this initiative and has supported it by
pledging our actions, which will continue to see us offering excellent and
unique learning opportunities to engage and inspire young people in
science.”
'Government, however, also needs to recognise that for this manifesto to
succeed, it requires them to address the broader issue of funding for
non-profit education providers, especially science centres. Science
centres across the UK have proven to play an instrumental role in science
education outside the classroom, yet they do not receive as much
recognition and, most importantly, regular funding from Government to
sustain their good work. The issue becomes more crucial as new demand is
expected through the new Learning Outside Classroom Manifesto.'
Over the last six years, At-Bristol has offered a wide range of education
programmes to schools, including many special projects with and for
schools, for instance the successful CitizenScience project that helps
boost students and teachers’ confidence in handling controversial science
discussion.
'At-Bristol’s programmes help enrich the curriculum, provide teachers with
new insights and fire young people's enthusiasm for science and
engineering - and generally for learning. We are proud of the positive
feedback we get from young people and teachers. However, getting regular
funding is a constant issue for science centres like us and we will need
additional support to continue providing our high quality education
programmes in the future.'
Since At-Bristol’s opening in 2000, it has hosted more than *350 000
school children (both primary and secondary) and has organised nearly
*2600 school workshops. **94%, 90% and 83% of the primary and secondary
schools in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and Gloucestershire
respectively have visited At-Bristol. In total, the science centre has
reached out to more than half of the primary and secondary schools in the
South West region.
*As at 31 August 2006
**As at July 2005
For more information please contact Mavis Choong, At-Bristol Press Office
0117 915 7152 / 0796 733 4152 /
mavis.choong@at-bristol.org.uk
About At-Bristol
At-Bristol is a leading science centre in the UK and a major player in the
world-wide science centre movement. It aims to be a world-class science
and natural history centre that makes distinctive, valued and recognised
contributions to informal science learning and public engagement with
science locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. A registered
charity, At-Bristol has hosted more than 3 million visitors and
continually strives towards making science accessible to all.
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