Local science teacher receives Primary Science Teacher Award

Date published: 31 January 2019

Chris Lowe, Assistant Headteacher and Science Leader at Lowerplace Primary School, Rochdale, is to receive a Primary Science Teacher Award.

The award recognises teachers that are doing incredible work: raising standards, excelling in tough conditions and going above and beyond their teaching role.

Chris will receive his accolade at the International Primary Science Education Conference (PSEC) in Edinburgh in June 2019. Following the award, he will also become a PSTT Fellow – a role with access to many benefits to promote primary science, including funding in excess of £500,000 to support projects that will help to shape primary science for the better.

Chris said: “I am thrilled with this award. I am really passionate about science and I want to pass on that passion to pupils as there are so many great opportunities for them in science professions.” 

Through the support of The Ogden Trust, the charity dedicated to promoting the teaching and learning of physics, as well as from many other primary science colleagues, Chris has put his school on the map through his innovative and all-engaging love of science. Last year, he was awarded a coveted place by The Ogden Trust to visit CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. He returned full of enthusiasm to make physics lessons even more exciting for his pupils.

Already, he has established a number of ‘firsts’ for Lowerplace Primary School.

He set up a dedicated Phiz Lab – a specialist classroom dedicated to the learning of science and then organised a satellite event for a cluster of Ogden Trust Partnership Schools in the area as part of the national Great Science Share held in June last year.

In December 2019, he gathered 180 pupils from Years 5 and 6 in local schools to interest them in the creation of the universe, space and particle physics, and arranged for a scientist from CERN to send a video message to the children.

Chris has worked with students at the University of Manchester studying on the Primary PGCE course, delivering lectures on science teaching as well as a live Skype lesson for students to watch.

Other projects he has contributed to include the successful bid to bring ‘Dippy the Diplodocus’ to Rochdale in February 2020.

Councillor Kieran Heakin, cabinet member for children’s services said: “Chris’ passion and enthusiasm is infectious, we are so grateful for all he’s been doing. He thoroughly deserves this award for all the hard work he has put in.”

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/121860/local-science-teacher-returns-from-cern-with-latest-wonders-of-physics
   
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/119809/blast-off-for-great-science-share