rce north east project

St Cuthbert’s RC High School
Gretna Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Ian Reeve

Newcastle University (Botanical Gardens – Dr Anne Borland), other LEA Schools and NE Schools by invitation.

The project will be take place on an annual basis and involves a one day master class in plant biology (repeated over 3 days) run jointly by Newcastle University and the St Cuthbert’s Biology department at Moorbank Gardens. The project will be aimed at gifted and talented Y9 pupils (level 7+). The day will cover basic plant biology as well as electrophoresis and medical applications of plants. Each session will involve around 20 pupils invited from a range of schools in the North East area.

• Attendance on course of 60 pupils from a range of North East Schools.
• Attendance on course of 60 pupils from a range of North East Schools.
• To raise the profile and stimulate interest in plant biology amongst gifted and talented pupils.
• To provide a foundation for plant biology at higher level GCSE.
• Success of project will be monitored through a questionnaire which pupils will complete at the end of the course.
• Increase participation post 16

• Schools Science departments will be contacted in early May and invited to nominate pupils who may benefit from the project.
• Resources to be produced would include promotional literature, work booklet for each pupil (x60) and questionnaires.
• An article evaluating the project will be made available for posting on the RCE website.
• Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

websites

The project is planned to take place in the last week of the summer term. Builds on success of project in 2007. Uses GTAC model of engaging school students with university students to promote Science learning.