Parents go back to the classroom to enjoy a night of science

Chris Lowe helps parents with the activities

Lowerplace Primary school threw open its doors on Monday evening for parents to enjoy science lessons.

Twenty parents took part in science activities in the school’s Phiz Lab, a dedicated science classroom which opened last year with support from the Ogden Trust. Sir Peter Ogden was a pupil at Lowerplace in the 1950s and, through his trust, has a resolute focus on increasing the number of pupils engaged in physics. School Phiz Labs are one of the ways they aim to inspire generations of children.

The event was part of Lowerplace’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) family learning night: the school’s commitment to get more pupils interested in careers in STEM related subjects.

Parents attending the event took part in a range of activities from using static electricity to move objects, making human circuits and inflating rubber gloves using chemical reactions. All the activities shared used resources that can be easily found in most kitchens, and therefore demonstrating that fun science activities can easily be done at home.

Chris Lowe, assistant headteacher and science lead at Lowerplace Primary, said: “We are really passionate about STEM subjects. There is so much opportunity for our children in terms of future careers and with Dippy coming to Rochdale next year. We think engaging families in STEM learning is vital in encouraging pupil’s interest and development in these subjects, so I’m really grateful that so many parents came along.”

Whilst the parents were having a blast in the science lab, their children were taking part in maths activities in the school hall.

Parents also got a goody bag of activities to take home after the event so they can carry out the activities with their children at home. Rebecca Hussain, a parent who attended the event, said: “This event will really help parents get more involved in doing science activities with their children.”

Clare Hervey, chief executive of The Ogden Trust, said: “Chris Lowe is very active in encouraging physics in the classroom, which is particularly special because Lowerplace is where it all started for our founder, Sir Peter Ogden. We hope the evening has encouraged both parents and children to see science as an enjoyable subject which can lead to a successful career."

The event aimed to raise science interest and empower parents to explore and learn science with their children at home.