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Highest level recognising excellence in science teaching and outstanding leadership in science with an impact on other schools and the wider community.
Science teaching at St. George’s Preparatory school continues to go from strength to strength. Lead by Head of Science, Andrea Lathwell, this week the school has achieved the coveted, highest level of the respected Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), ‘Outreach Level’. This recognises both the outstanding science teaching within the school, but also the impact that St. George’s’ leadership in science is having on other schools and our wider island community. It’s the first PSQM at Outreach Level achieved by any school in the Channel Islands.
The School was praised for its commitment to excellence in science teaching, for ‘listening to the pupil voice’, and for the support for STEM subjects provided by the Senior Leadership Team at the school. It also recognised the fact that ‘pupils clearly enjoy their science learning and engage with developments’. The ‘scientific enquiry throughout the school’ was highly praised alongside the commitment to scientific initiatives such as British Science Week and cross-curricular theme days.
Importantly, to achieve the highest level ‘Outreach’ status, the School’s engagement with other organisations and the wider island community in scientific endeavours was recognised as ‘such a strength’ for St. George’s. Mrs Lathwell has supported schools with lesson ideas and planning, best practice feedback and training sessions on United Nations climate change modules. She has also shared ideas for climate change education with the Jersey Curriculum Council. The school has run science-focused sessions for the community at the public library and promoted ideas for positive climate action on local media. The report also highly praised the way St. George’s has worked with the States of Jersey to ‘re-wild’ large sections of local public spaces, planting in excess of 700 trees and other climate-supporting planting for the benefit of the whole community for years to come.
Head of Science, Mrs Andrea Lathwell, said this about achieving the award:
“I am exceptionally proud that St.George’s has been awarded the PSQM Outreach award. Most important of all, to read that external adjudicators could see that ‘there is clearly a passion for science’ here, and that ‘pupils can see science all around them and how important it is’ means that we are achieving what we set out to do at School every day. Sparking interest in our pupils and encouraging inquiring, scientific minds will lead to the important scientific discoveries of the future. Teaching science is a great privilege and reaching out to have a wider impact on the community is a duty we take very seriously. Fortunately, everyone at St.George’s is equally committed to our outreach programmes and we have very exciting plans for future initiatives.”
Headteacher, Mr Cormac Timothy, said: “At St. George’s we understand that interested, engaged children make the best learners, and this is evident in the level of science achievement at our School. One of our four, core school values is ‘Responsibility’ and that’s what I feel this Outreach Award reflects. We see ourselves as citizens of the world, with an ability and a responsibility to make a positive impact both within and far beyond our school walls. Sharing our passion for science and STEM subjects and undertaking community projects driven by scientific evidence means that we’re leaving a positive legacy for our community. We are supported by our families too, as recognised in the report, and that means that we’re able to make a significant difference with the projects we undertake. As the Headteacher of a School that is proud to be part of island life, this Outreach Award is an achievement I’m very proud to accept on behalf of our whole school community.”
