Science Oxford programmes re-open for schools

With the start of the new academic year, we are pleased to announce that we are now re-opening all our programmes for schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Over the summer we’ve reviewed the opening of the Science Oxford Centre as well as all our activities to ensure that they are COVID-secure and include appropriate precautions to keep children, teachers and our staff safe.

The Science Oxford Centre has now opened its doors for schools. To ensure a safe visit individual schools will have exclusive use of the site on any chosen day. Every visit includes a session in the spacious Exploration Zone with its amazing hands-on exhibits, like the Scarf Shooter and the Air Table, as well as the choice of a STEM-themed show, workshop or you can opt to take a guided walk in our wonderful 15-acre woodland with its 2-kilometres of trails.

For our primary outreach programme, we’ve adapted many of our STEM-themed shows and workshops for schools so that our presenters are able to maintain an appropriate distance from your class. There are 18 COVID-secure shows and workshops to choose from, including making your own creature creations, doing the egg drop challenge and launching a water rocket! Our outreach visits are all tailor-made for a school’s timetable and space and our COVID-secure guidelines explain what we are doing to keep everyone safe. We will ensure any equipment booked through our kit loan service is fully cleaned or left unused for at least 72 hours between use by different groups. And many of our CPD sessions will now be done online. Our Big Science Event for Schools also returns this year to encourage pupil-led investigation in science and schools can start registering now.

Our STEM Careers Programme for secondary school students has also re-opened with an exciting series of events for this term. We are already taking bookings for our STEM Careers Days and for year 10s we will be running our first STEM Insight Week online. We are also accepting applications for our annual Young Scientist of the Year competition, which will be a virtual event in November.

The Science Oxford Centre is also open to children and families for our Family Open Days every other Saturday throughout the Autumn, including a special anniversary opening and Halloween-themed days over the October half term. You can watch our video to see all the things we are doing to keep visitors safe. The summer open days were all sold out so book up soon!

If you have any queries about any of our programmes, please do contact us on 01865 810 000. We are looking forward to seeing you again soon!