Friday 20th March, 2015 saw the post-graduate teacher training students from Strathclyde University revisit St. Joseph’s in Helensburgh to complete their Sciences VIP (Vertically Integrated Project) Option module of their course with P5, P6 and P7 children. The students had first visited in February for an orientation and fact finding visit to see first-hand the progressive STEM teaching in which every pupil is involved at St. Joseph’s.

The students were delighted to witness first-hand the on-going STEM work in the school and interviewed staff and the Head Teacher to get a better understanding of the practice in school.
















The next step was to develop their learning by delivering their own science lessons in each of the senior classes. The students were enthused by the experience writing the following in their own evaluations of the project:

‘This experience gave a good insight into STEM practice in an actual primary school.’

‘Great exposure to science teaching in schools and an opportunity to meet a range of professionals about teaching science in primary schools.’

‘The opportunity with the school was a really valuable preparation for placement and beyond.’

‘Highly relevant – it removed my apprehension of science and gave exposure to a variety of resources and research I had never known about.’

The students were so grateful and impressed that they put to good use their own knowledge of Technology by creating a plaque for St. Joseph’s clearly emphasising their thanks to the school for their involvement. The students’ tutor and the Sciences’ VIP Option’s academic lead at Strathclyde University, Robert Collins said:

‘This was an excellent opportunity for the students to teach Primary Science at the cutting edge of pedagogy. We always read so much about how so many students can lack confidence in this area. This collaboration with St Joseph’s staff and pupils has gone a long way in further strengthening the confidence and competence of the Strathclyde students involved in the Sciences VIP module. In their own words it was an excellent experience and one they would fully recommend to their peers’.