Llanfairfach School
1. We arrive at the school half way through break time. The school is housed in an old stone building. There are some portacabin type outbuildings. Mrs Jones and Miss Roberts meet us in reception and we have our meeting in the music room. Mrs Jones does most of the speaking. She talks without much prompting from either Emma or me.
2. The first thing she tells us is that they picked Techniquest because it was a "safe" space. This is particularly important this year because Miss Roberts is new to teaching. Mrs Jones tells us that the trip is really intended as a "fun day out".
3. Mrs Jones tells us that when they covered Forces earlier this year (?January), "Gary the clown" came in to demonstrate some of the principles. Although they have already covered forces, it is a "coincidence" (but added bonus) that they are going to the "Pushes and Pull" theme week. She says that they would have gone to see any theme during that week regardless of whether or not they had studied it. [s1].
4. Mrs Jones says that last year she took her class to PorthCawl. They had a school inspector in and so she wanted to choose a trip that had an obvious educational value. Porthcawl seemed ideal because it meant that they could do some geographical work. The trip was a disaster because it rained. Another year they went to St Fagan's. The teacher in the year one class now takes the children to St Fagan's every year, and so Miss Jones doesn't take her year two class there.
5. Mrs Jones says that some of the children have already been to Techniquest with their parents.
Someone wants to use the Music room and so we move to the staff room.
6. Mrs Jones talks about consent forms. Mrs Jones says that most of the parent will have received the letters and that they would have objected if they did not want their children to take part. She says that some of the teachers (including Miss Roberts) have said that they don't want to be filmed. We establish with Miss Roberts that it is OK for her to be in shot, but she says that she doesn't want to be asked to speak on camera.
7. We talk to Miss Roberts about arrangements for before, during and after the visit. I suggest that we come in for a day before the visit but Miss Roberts thinks that this will be too much for the class, as they are quite lively. We agree to come in for the morning on Tuesday the 3rd of June. We then arrange to come in on Wednesday the 11th of June for the post visit work.
8. Mrs Jones outlines the timetable for the School day and the timetable for the Techniquest trip (see below). The school will be using a local bus company and Miss Jones thinks that there will be no problem with us filming on the bus.
9. Mrs Jones says that they will not be going to the shop at Techniquest, but they have arranged for most children to take home a pre-ordered Techniquest gift bag. Letters were sent out to parents asking if they wanted a bag. Most parents opted for the bag.
10. Timetable for the 4th of June
9.15 - leaving
10.30 - 11.00 - arrive main exhibit
11.00 - Science Theatre "workshop".
11.45 - Lunch
12.45 - 1.45 - Exhibition Hall
28 Children,
6 adults
1 Teacher
4 NNEB'S
11. School Timetable
9 - 10.30 Class Time
10-30 -10.50 break
10.50 - 12.00
12.00 - 1.00 Lunch
1.00 - 2.10 Afternoon
2.10 - 2.30 Break
2.30 - 3.00
Wednesday 11th -
9.30 - 10.00 Fieldwork P.E in the morning
[s1]Links: http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/UpperCwmbranE.pdf | http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/newsdesk/newsletter/228/228.pdf | http://www.interactives.co.uk/hearts_racehrs.htm
"Children play what they know"