OUTDOOR SCIENCE EDUCATION

That this House welcomes the Association for Science Education Outdoor Science Working Group's report entitled Outdoor Science, sponsored by the Nuffield Foundation, which recognises the need to reverse the decline in the provision and condition of outdoor teaching in science and mathematics; further welcomes the six recommendations in the report which seek to improve and optimise best practice in outdoor science and mathematics education; recognises the wider educational benefits of teaching and learning science through fieldwork in the natural and built environments including teamwork, motivation and its potential to influence positively the choice of science as a future subject of study; and therefore urges the Government to develop a co-ordinated programme of teacher training in fieldwork to promote effective pedagogy and to support a coherent approach towards the increased uptake and improved quality of teaching and learning through fieldwork in science and mathematics education.