School Teacher Fellow
Tim Harrison is the Bristol ChemLabS Teacher Fellow in the School of Chemistry. He was formerly Science College Director of Rednock School, Dursley, Gloucestershire.
What is a school teacher fellow?
A School Teacher Fellow is a qualified and experienced secondary school teacher who is charged with finding ways in which the many resources of the university can be used to stimulate an active interest in chemistry in school students and pupils of all ages. This includes the organisation of conferences, competitions and workshops, as well as the training of less experienced chemistry teachers and technicians. An important aspect also includes reviewing the Post 18 interface between schools and degree courses.
As the Bristol ChemLabS School Teacher Fellow (and also as Director of Outreach), Tim Harrison is responsible for all Outreach activities, a selection of which are listed below.
General Activities:
- Lecture demonstrations in schools for students in Y7 -13
- University aspiration-raising experiences for KS4
- University experiences for Y10/11 students on topics such as polymer chemistry, climate change, structure and bonding and perfume chemistry
- Chemistry schools conferences throughout the year
- Spring and summer schools in chemistry held annually
- Chemistry competitions for the Royal Society of Chemistry regional heats and the Salters’ organisations
University Experiences for Post 16:
- A programme of AS/A-Level practicals that can be carried out using the School of Chemistry’s facilities at regular intervals during the year so that students have a chance to use equipment not usually available in school laboratories.
- Summer School held jointly with Trinity College Dublin
- Chemistry schools conferences throughout the year
- Winter and summer schools for international students
- Spectroscopy visits for Post 16 students
- Analytical chemistry competitions for the Royal Society of Chemistry regional heats
For more information see the Outreach website's secondary schools section.
Teacher and Technician Training:
- Practical workshops for teachers who are new to teaching practical chemistry
- Training for science technicians, several in conjunction with the regional Science Learning Centre South West
- Leading edge science courses for teachers
Working with Primary Schools:
- An online science competition and other activities for primary school pupils
- Science workshop days
- Science assemblies
- Science Conferences for KS2
- Perfume Chemistry mornings at the School of Chemistry
More information about the Bristol ChemLabS outreach activities
‘The Role of the School Teacher Fellow’,
D. E. Shallcross and T. G. Harrison, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, Volume 8 (1), January 2007