Interview with Claire Welsh - Primary Schools Programme Manager

BS: I'm going to move on - to ask some general questions about Techniquest. First a very broad question. How would you describe Techniquest?

CW ((laughs, makes "difficult" sound, pauses)). What, actually what went through my head straight away then was I remember, someone came in and we, we were talking about - describing things as animals and I'm trying to think, I know there're a couple of animals that came out. I know dolphin was one of the, one of the ones that came up for Techniquest. Because it's, I mean it is fun, there's, it's very, I think it's very friendly, so I suppose dolphin's quite a good description really.

I think, I think our main, our main role is trying to enthuse. I mean, I know from my, from my standpoint I've got to make sure that we're covering the curriculum and all this sort of thing. And, and there are obviously some people here who are - very much wanting to make everything fun and everything, you know - exciting and sometimes I have to say to them well it's great to get the kids all hyped up but on the other hand, sometimes the teachers want, want them to actually listen to what they're - you know, what the content is and go away with some knowledge as, you know as well, in the shows and that sort of thing. So, I suppose in my role I have to make sure that there's a certain degree of - serious content that goes in ºsometimes as wellº. But that's where it's nice doing the primary side of things cause there's always, light-hearted stuff you can put into the shows as well, so, that's good.

I think it's changed, I think for, when I first came here - it was very much we've been in the building probably as I say about a year something like that, and, it was, this was our new place, it was all very exciting, lots of people coming here for the first, their first visit. And, in a way, you almost got the impression whatever you did people were, thrilled, you know. I mean it, it's just nice even if you just walk in here if no, if nothing else happens the place looks nice and it's exciting. So I think, I think one of the changes now has been - people are becoming very familiar with the place and particularly a lot of teachers. And so it's, it's, people are looking for, you know, "are you doing something new or some extra" sort of thing, so. So, it's, it's becoming - it's become more challenging in a way, because, it's keeping that freshness all the time that - and also, you know, when you come new to a job obviously you've got certain things you want to, you want to do and, and you sort of, dredging down deep for the, the new ideas, you know.