York pupils enjoy a 'golden moment'
Posted on 15 March 2011
Year 6 pupils from Osbaldwick Primary School have been exploring the Science of Food with University of York student volunteers for the last four weeks, discussing farming and food miles, food packaging and healthy diets.
I want to go into teaching when I graduate and for me having the chance to go into a classroom and deliver lessons that I’ve actually planned has been fantastic
University of York volunteer Laura Abbott
The highlight will be a ‘golden moment’ on Wednesday, 16 March when they will take a behind-the-scenes tour of Fera – the Food and Environment Research Agency – at Sand Hutton, York.
The visit will include a tour of the complex including its apiary and honey bees, laboratories and greenhouses. The 10 and 11-year-olds are most excited about a microbiology workshop – a hands-on session looking at mould.
York Children’s University, which was launched to York’s business community last week, builds on the work of York Cares Kids College, which since 2009 has helped bring learning to life for over 400 children in the city.
Led by employee-volunteering charity York Cares, it brings together York employers, the University of York, schools and the children and families they serve. York Children’s University is supporting children aged seven to 14, particularly those from disadvantaged areas, to learn through extra-curricular and out-of-hours activities delivered by employee and university student volunteers.
Lesley Barringer, Headteacher, from Osbaldwick Primary School, said: “This module has been a fantastic opportunity for children to work alongside science students and professional scientists, and to see where learning science at school might lead them.”
The Children’s University is a national scheme which celebrates the achievements of children through a certificated programme and graduations.
University of York student volunteers play a vital role by running four or five-week modules in different themed areas such as the Science of Food, Money, the Media, Law and Justice, and Tracks and Trains. They work closely with employees from businesses such as Aviva, Fera, Northern Rail, Network Rail, York Marriot, York Press and North Yorkshire Police.
The Science of Food module was developed by first year University of York students Laura Abbott (Chemistry) and Rob Eynon (Electronics). The trip to Fera and the practical microbiology session will build on an earlier classroom activity where pupils created ‘rot boxes’ where they put food in air tight containers then saw what happened after several weeks.
University of York volunteer Laura Abbott, 19, said: “I want to go into teaching when I graduate and for me having the chance to go into a classroom and deliver lessons that I’ve actually planned has been fantastic.
“The children have really loved the classes as they’ve been different to their normal science lessons. We look more at the industrial side of science and on the trip to Fera the children will be able to see what scientists do for a job. Our message to the children is that one day you could be doing this too.”
Lynn Gray, Head of Organisational Development, Fera said: “This is a golden opportunity for us to open our doors to local children and inspire the next generations of scientists”
Many of York’s key cultural and out-of-school providers, including York Arts Academy, the National Centre for Early Music, York Museums Trust, York Theatre Royal, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership, have already pledged support for the new Children’s University and will be providing activities in areas such as heritage, arts and the environment.
Notes to editors:
- The Children’s University is a national UK-wide organisation which focuses on rewarding participation, raising aspirations and encouraging engagement with learning. For further information visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk
- York Cares is an independent charity, founded by the University of York, Aviva, City of York Council and local employers in 2005, which runs an employee volunteering programme. It established York Cares Kids College in 2009 as a pilot to test the feasibility of joining the National Children’s University programme. More information at www.yorkcares.co.uk
- The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) is
an Executive Agency of the UK Government’s Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Its remit is to provide robust evidence,
rigorous analysis and expert professional advice to government,
international organisations and the private sector, in order to support
and develop a sustainable and secure food chain, a healthy natural
environment, and to protect the global community from biological and
chemical risks.
Facts about the Food and Environment Research Agency:- We turnover in excess of £65 million a year
- We employ over 500 scientists and 150 plant and bee inspectors
- We run over 600 research projects
- We analyse over 50,000 plant and food samples a year
- We carry out over 150,000 plant and bee health inspection visits a year
- We are the National Reference Laboratory for chemicals in food, pesticides, veterinary drugs, dioxins and PCBs in feed
- We provide services to customers in over 100 countries
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