Young Scientists Tackle Hot Topics at Revision Clubs
Experiments with dry ice and attempts to burn money have been proving popular at an after-school science club for pupils from two Gravesend schools organised by the University of Greenwich at Medway.
University postgraduate biochemistry student Samantha Booth, of Istead Rise, Gravesend, has been assisting pupils from her own former secondary school, Northfleet School for Girls, and Northfleet Technology College prepare for their GCSE science examinations this summer.
“It has been good fun and very rewarding as the pupils have been so enthusiastic,” said Samantha. “We have been going over the science they need to understand to do well in their GCSEs and taking a range of approaches to make the subject much more accessible.
“It has been a question of putting science-speak into everyday language and conducting interesting experiments to demonstrate the theories. I am optimistic that the club will have really helped the pupils achieve good grades in their exams.”
And Christine Snell, the Business and Community Links co-ordinator at Northfleet Technology College, is delighted with the revision programme.
“It is the first time we have run this type of revision club and the response has been tremendous from both staff and pupils.
“We will certainly be arranging more revision and top tips sessions to help boost the confidence of our students before their exams,” she said.
The revision clubs were organised by Aimhigher Learning Mentors Jennie Reynolds, of Northfleet Technology College, and Claire King, of Northfleet School for Girls.
The University of Greenwich at Medway has been staging after-school clubs in Science, Maths, English and Sports Science in seven secondary schools this spring as part of an initiative dedicated to widening participation in Higher Education.
Will Calver, Access & Education Liaison Coordinator at the University of Greenwich, said: “University lecturers and volunteer student ambassadors help us deliver the after-school clubs.
“They bring a fresh approach and a fresh voice to the topics the pupils have been studying. Often that is all that is needed to rekindle enthusiasm and help pupils get to grips with any topics that they have found confusing.
“The revision clubs run over eight weekly sessions and we are planning to expand the programme to include more curriculum subjects and more schools,” he said.
Every year the University of Greenwich works with more than 9,000 school students from primary school through to university entry. The initiative is developed in collaboration with Aimhigher Kent & Medway with funding from the Higher Education Council For England (HEFCE), local authorities and the Learning & Skills council.
To find out more about studying at the University of Greenwich, call freephone 0800 005 006; e-mail: courseinfo@gre.ac.uk or see: www.gre.ac.uk
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