The Effects of National Testing in Science at KS2 in England and Wales: Executive Summary
Commissioned by the Wellcome Trust in association with the ASE this report discusses the effects of compulsory national testing in science on Year Six teachers and the teaching of science in England, as well as the impact of the abolition of statutory testing in science at Key Stage Two in 2004 on Year Six teachers and the teaching…
Review of Informal Science Learning
This review, published in 2012 by the Wellcome Trust, characterises the value of informal science learning to science education in the UK. Focusing on children and young people aged up to 19, the study sought to provide: ■ a better understanding of the scope of informal science learning, its theoretical base and the types of…
Attitudes of Children and Parents to Key Stage Two Science Testing and Assessment
Published in 2010 by the Wellcome Trust, this report considers students’ and parents’ views of testing and assessment in science at Key Stage Two in England and Wales. The research was carried out by the School of Education at Queen’s University Belfast over a period in which the Key Stage Two science SAT was abolished.…
Leading Debate: 21 Years of the National Curriculum for Science
In July 2010, 21 years after the National Curriculum was first introduced, the Wellcome Trust convened a seminar to reflect on the impact of the National Curriculum for science. Presented in this report are views that emerged from the seminar where delegates considered the National Curriculum’s initial development and subsequent…
Evaluation of the Wellcome Trust Camden STEM Initiative
This report, published in March 2012 by the National Foundation for Educational Research, presents the findings of an evaluation of the Wellcome Trust’s Camden Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative which provided funding to eight Camden schools to develop interdisciplinary projects. Projects…
Darwin Education Initiative
Published by the Wellcome Trust in January 2011, this report provides the findings from the final stage of the evaluation of the Darwin Education Initiative. It includes the findings from follow-up interviews with case study schools which explored the continued use of the Great Plant Hunt and Survival Rivals materials. Of specific…
Creative Encounters: Feasibility Study for a Touring Exhibition to Promote Creative Learning in Science
Published by the Wellcome Trust in 2007, this report is the product of a feasibility study for a touring exhibition to promote creative learning in science. The study involved: • Evaluating the Trust's objectives for such an exhibition and making recommendations on the feasibility of meeting these objectives (and advising…
Believers, Seekers and Sceptics: What Teachers Think about CPD
In 2005 the Wellcome Trust commissioned this survey of teachers and managers in state maintained schools in England, focusing on three main aspects of continuing professional development (CPD): • What do different types of teacher want from CPD? • What are the benefits of CPD, and for whom? • What, if anything,…
Acquisition of Science Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Training
Published by the Wellcome Trust in October 201, this report looks at how one-year postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in England and Wales support trainees’ acquisition of subject knowledge and topic specific pedagogy across the sciences. The study, which was the first of its kind to look into the acquisition…
Primary Science in the UK: a Scoping Study
The Wellcome Trust commissioned this research in May 2004. The Graduate School of Education at Queen’s University Belfast and the Science Department of St Mary’s University College Belfast carried out the work. The Wellcome Trust was seeking to establish an overview of the current status of primary science in the UK…
Primary Science Survey Report
This report presents the findings of an online survey during July 2011 for The Wellcome Trust. The survey asked primary school teachers for their views on the status of primary science, the opportunities available to their students and themselves as professionals, and how these things may have changed since the removal of SATs in…
Subject Choice In STEM: Factors Influencing Young People (Aged 14-19) in Education
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPICentre) was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust to undertake this systematic review of research about subject choice. The main aim of the review was to examine the factors that influence the STEM subject choices of young people (14-19 years) in education…
Teaching of Social and Ethical Issues Arising From Developments in Biomedical Research
This research, commissioned by the Wellcome trust, was undertaken by an interdisciplinary team led by Ralph Levinson and Dr Sheila Turner at the Institute of Education, University of London between May 1st and December 1st 1999. The project reports on five main areas: • The perceived importance amongst teachers (especially…
Big Picture Teaching Resources: Evaluation Report
This report, commissioned by the Wellcome Trust, evaluates Big Picture, its free publication on bioscience, and explores ways in which it could be developed. It was hoped that this summary of the main findings would be of use to other organisations developing materials for teachers and students, particularly those interested in offering…
A Level Biology, Higher Education and Research in the Biological Sciences
This report describes the findings of research carried out for the Wellcome Trust by the Centre for Education and Industry at the University of Warwick in 2002-2003. The Wellcome Trust was seeking to establish how well existing A Level Biology courses meet the needs of modern biological sciences, the aims of schools and FE colleges,…
Genes and You
Published by the Wellcome Trust in 1997, this book provides challenging ways of incorporating scientific information into social situations. Teachers' notes complement the student activity sheets in a series of real-life scenarios. In addition to looking at the biology of genetic disorders, inheritance, genes, chromosomes…
Careers from Biology
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this issue of the Big Picture explores some of the careers that are available to students who have studied biological science. It goes beyond the doctors, vets and other science-related careers typically described to include people working in a wide variety of sectors. Case studies include the work…
Wellcome Trust: Tree of Life
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, these resources include an interactive evolutionary tree and a video of the Tree of Life. These materials will help students to find out more about the work of Charles Darwin and evolution. The resources contain: Tree of life video The video is a short section of the 'Charles Darwin and the…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Gene Therapy: Personal Perspectives
Produced by Nowgen, and with support from the Wellcome Trust, the Changing Futures project explored the effects of cystic fibrosis (CF) and the prospects of treatment using gene therapy. These two videos give personal perspectives on gene therapy from two cystic fibrosis sufferers. Natasha is at college. She talks about how she…
Gene Therapy: the Facts
From Nowgen, and produced with support from the Wellcome Trust, this video interview sees Caitlin, a cystic fibrosis sufferer, quizzing Dr. Kevin Southern. He is a Paediatric Respiratory Consultant working at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. His answers shed light on gene therapy and also future treatments of cystic…
How Gene Therapy Works
Produced by Nowgen and with support from the Wellcome Trust, these two video animations were produced by young people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Both animations describe, in an engaging way, the processes of gene therapy. In its simplest form, gene therapy aims to replace a non-working copy of a gene with a working copy. How…
What Is Gene Therapy?
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, in these videos Dr. Mat Hickman and Dr. Simon Waddington describe gene therapy and some of the recent developments in the technique. What is gene therapy? In his first video, Dr Mat Hickman talks about the basics of gene therapy. This includes: • how some disorders…
Gene Therapy Timeline
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, this series of video clips describe some of the research milestones that have taken place in the development of gene therapy as a possible treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF). The short video clips cover: Introduction Introduces Dr Kevin Southern, who is a consultant…
Cystic Fibrosis: Physiotherapy to Music
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, this video is set to music and takes an engaging look at the types of physiotherapy exercises that cystic fibrosis (CF) sufferers must do. Physiotherapy is part of living with CF. The exercises help to clear thick and sticky mucus from the lungs. This is important in reducing…
Cystic Fibrosis: Personal Stories
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, this activity contains two video diaries from teenagers who have cystic fibrosis (CF). They help to shed light on the effects of CF and how it influences the lives of those with the condition. Hannah shows a video animation that she made during a period in hospital. She…
Make Your Own Mucus and Extracting DNA
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, these resources illustrate two practical activities. One explains how to make 'artificial mucus' and relates it to the mucus produced in the lungs by individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The second is an activity sheet with instructions on how to extract DNA from…
Cystic Fibrosis: Meet the Health Professionals
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, these short video clips are interviews with two health professionals who work with patients who have cystic fibrosis (CF). Janice is a CF specialist practioner. She looks after children and young people up to the age of 18. Janice explains: • the types of patients…
How Cystic Fibrosis Affects the Body
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, this short video clip is an interview with Dr Ceri Harrop, the Public Programmes Manager at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research. Dr Harrop talks with Caitlin, a cystic fibrosis sufferer. In the video, Dr Harrop explains: • the causes of cystic fibrosis…
- 3/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
How Can You Get Cystic Fibrosis?
Produced by Nowgen, with support from the Wellcome Trust, this short video clip is an animation written by a student who has cystic fibrosis (CF). The animation helps to explain the genetic basis of the disorder. The short animation covers: • How CF is caused by a faulty CFTR gene (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance…
Exercise, Energy and Movement
Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this issue of the Big Picture looks at the physiology and sociology of exercise and movement. For humans, movement is for more than just basic survival. They move for fun, to compete and to be healthy. This resource looks at the biological systems that keep humans moving and consider some of the…
Food and Diet
This issue of the Big Picture, from the Wellcome Trust, looks at the role that food plays not only in human physiology but also in the individual's lives. Food is about so much more than sustenance. Food choice touches on many aspects of human life: culture, identity, religion, relationships, mood, fashion and pleasure. This…
Secrets of Cells
This issue of the Big Picture, from the Wellcome Trust, looks inside the cells that make up every part of the human body. Focussing on animal cells, the articles are suitable for post-16 students or as an extension for 14-16 students. The topics covered include: • What are cells for? • What are the structures of cells? •…