St Mary's RC Primary, Horwich, achieves Science Quality Mark

Young Einsteins at St Mary's RC Primary School are encouraged to explore everything from the mysteries of the universe to their local environment.

And now the work of the Horwich school has been recognised nationally with a award, the Primary Science Quality Mark, which recognises the very best teaching of science in class.

Science is taught through trips out, activities, quizzes and games around science to engage children's minds.

A 'working wall', which the school says helps the children to know more, remember more and apply more (Image: St Mary's RC Primary School)

Louise Speakman, Science Leader at the school, said: "As a school, we are part of the Primary Science Teaching Trust. We applied for funding from them, which allowed us to apply for the PSQM, as we wouldn't have been able to fund it ourselves.

"It is just testament to the staff and the children and their love for science. I have never worked in a school where children love science as much as they do at St Mary's.

"It is down to the staff, we do have a bespoke science curriculum - for example, schools don't have to teach space on the curriculum across the entire school, but we do because the children love it."

Bronze and Silver Space Education Quality Mark awards previously won by the school (Image: St Mary's RC Primary School)She continued: "I think the children know more, they remember more and so they can apply more. We have done a lot of work trying to come up with activities where the children can know more and remember more, such as quizzes and games.

"There is a huge encouragement of science at St Mary's, with school trips, space education and space camp.

"We really try to encourage the children to ask questions and to develop their wonder and awe, and to be independent and do their own investigations." 

Run by the Association for Science Education, the PSQM aims to raise the profile and quality of science in primary schools across the UK.  In order to garner the mark, the school had to show it met the 13 criteria that make it up.