A pilot to enhance science education by training and equipping

Science teachers, initially in Scotland and then in England, to

make classroom Science exciting, relevant and up to date, and

attract more 12 to 13 year old pupils to pursue Science as an

option within the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in Scotland

and the National Curriculum in England.

THE OPPORTUNITY

THE INNOVATION

Make both learning and teaching Science in the classroom more

exciting, up to date and attractive for both teachers and pupils

Increase the numbers of pupils choosing Science subjects and make the

quality of their education world leading

Improve the prospects for many industries and professions in the UK

Focus on Physics and use funding from the Rank Prize Funds & others

to introduce topical, optoelectronics-based, classroom activities that

make learning about Science more stimulating, topical & relevant and

help achieve specified outcomes in the relevant curriculum

Pilot an Optoelectronics College (OEC) to provide Continuous Professional

Development (CPD), kits and support for Science Teachers, so that their

pupils can participate in 3 sets of stimulating activities that use modern

optoelectronics to deliver curriculum outcomes and can understand the

Science in everyday items like LCDs, LEDs, solar cells & optical fibres.

Pilot this using CPD to train and equip Science Teachers in 100 Scottish

schools to introduce these activities as part of the CfE and extend this to

train and equip Science Teachers in 400 schools in England & Wales.

Support and embolden them through a college of their peers and use

their feedback as evidence in assessing the pilot and deciding on any

further roll out.

This initiative heralds new thinking on how to engage learners and

attract them to Science before they choose their course options. It links

industry, research and education and provides learners with a new

dimension for learning about Science and how it can be applied.

FOCUS ON THREE THEMES

1. Solar Cells in Action (SCiA)

Investigate how a solar cell converts energy, what things affect its operation and how

it is used, including the generation of “green” electricity from sunlight. Use light to

charge a solar buggy, measure its range and compete against your classmates.

2. Colour Vision and Displays (CV&D)

Learn about colour vision and survey public perceptions about this. Explore additive

mixing of primary colours and how displays work, such as LCDs for laptops and TV

3. Illumination and Communication (I&C)

Understand how an LED generates light without heat, how it can produce different

colours and many of its uses, including future environmentally friendly room lighting.

Feel this using a hand generator to power LED & halogen spotlights of comparable

light output. Learn how optical fibres work to transmit telephone & internet signals.

PROGRESS AT MAY 2013

150 SCiA, 116 I&C and 112

CV&D kits provided to schools at

over 40 CPD workshops

CPD training provided by

OEC Fellows for over 300

Science teachers, who have

become Members of the OEC

Website online at www.opto.org.uk with downloadable teacher,

technician and pupil materials

More than a third of Scottish secondary schools have at least one of

more than 375 kits donated: ~30% have two, or more different kits

Additional support received from The MacRobert Trust, The Wolfson

Foundation, The Scottish Government, the Photonics Knowledge

Transfer Network, IoP Scotland and IoP Education Dept., companies

and other charities.

Matching co-sponsorship being sought to enhance the scope and value

of kits and activities.

~330 SCIENCE TEACHERS, FROM 318 SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND,

TRAINED IN AT LEAST ONE THEME: ~200 HAVE ALL THREE KITS

SCOTTISH PILOT FOCUSES ON THREE OPTOELECTRONICS THEMES:

~330 SCIENCE TEACHERS, FROM OVER 300 SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND,

TRAINED AND EQUIPPED: ~200 SCHOOLS HAVE ALL THREE KITS

PHASE 1 OF SCOTTISH PILOT COMPLETED IN MAY 2013

DISTRIBUTION OF KITS IN SCOTLAND – MAY 2013

SCHOOLS HAVING ALL 3 KITS

1 Aboyne Academy2 Albyn High School3 Alford Academy4 Alness Academy5 Armadale Academy6 Arran High School7 Baldragon Academy, Dundee8 Banchory Academy9 Bearsden Academy10 Beath High School, 9Cowdenbeath11 Berwickshire High School12 Blairgowrie High School13 Boclair Academy14 Breadalbane Academy15 Buckhaven High School16 Buckie High17 Castlebrae Community High School18 Charleston Academy, Inverness19 Clifton Hall School, Edinburgh20 Coatbridge High School21 Community High School Auchterarder22 Crieff High School23 Cumnock Academy24 Currie High School, Edinburgh25 Deans Community High School26 Dingwall Academy27 Dornoch Academy28 Dunbar Grammar School29 Dunblane High School30 Earlston High School31 Edinburgh Academy32 Elgin Academy33 Elgin High School34 Ellon Academy

35 Forres Academy36 Fortrose Academy37 Fraserburgh Academy38 Gairloch High School39 Galashiels Academy40 George Watson's College41 Glasgow Gaelic School42 Glenwood High School,

Glenrothes43 Grantown Grammar School44 Greenock Academy45 Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh46 High School of Glasgow47 Hutchesons Grammar School48 Inverkeithing High School49 Inverness High School50 Jordanhill School51 Keith Grammar School52 Kemnay Academy53 Kilgraston School54 Kilwinning Academy55 Kincorth Academy56 Kingussie High School57 Kinross High School58 Lanark Grammar School59 Largs Academy60 Liberton High School61 Linlithgow Academy62 Lossiemouth High School63 Meldrum Academy64 Menzieshill High School65 Millburn Academy, Inverness66 Milne's High School, Fochabers67 Mintlaw Academy

68 Monifieth High School69 Montrose Academy70 Morrison’s Academy71 Nairn Academy72 Nicolson Institute, Stornoway73 Northfield Academy74 Oldmachar Academy75 Park Mains High School76 Perth Academy77 Perth Grammar School78 Perth High School79 Pitlochry High School80 Portlethen Academy81 Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen82 Selkirk High School83 Speyside High School, Aberlour84 Springburn Academy85 St Aloysius College, Glasgow86 St Andrews High School, Kirkcaldy87 St Andrew's High School, Coatbridge88 St Columba’s High, Dunfermline89 St John’s Academy, Perth90 St Leonards School, St Andrews91 St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston92 St Thomas of Aquin’s High School93 Strathaven Academy94 Tain Royal Academy95 Thurso High School96 Tobermory High School97 Turriff Academy98 Viewforth High School, Kirkcaldy99 Wallace Hall Academy100 Whitburn Academy101 Woodfarm High School

SCHOOLS HAVING 2 KITS

1 Anderson High School, Lerwick,Shetland

2 Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh3 George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh4 Holy Cross High School, Hamilton

5 Larbert High School6 Lourdes Secondary7 Maxwelltown High School8 Preston Lodge High School9 Prestwick Academy

10 Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula11 Stonelaw High School

SCHOOLS HAVING 1 KIT

1 Arbroath Academy2 Arbroath High School3 Auchmuty High School, Glenrothes4 Baltasound Junior High School,

Shetland5 Banff Academy6 Bankhead Academy7 Bathgate Academy8 Brechin High School9 Bridge of Don Academy10 Camphill School11 Carnoustie High12 Carrick Academy13 Craigholme School14 Craigmont High School, Edinburgh15 Dalkeith High School16 Dundee High School17 Eyemouth High School18 Firhill High School, Edinburgh

19 Forfar Academy20 Glenrothes High School21 Gordon Schools, Huntly22 Gordonstoun23 Graeme High School24 Harris Academy25 Hawick High School26 Holyrood High School27 Inverclyde Academy28 Inverness Royal Academy29 James Gillespie High School30 Jedburgh Grammar School31 Kinlochbervie High School32 Kinlochleven High School33 Lasswade High School34 Lochaber High School35 Lockerbie Academy36 Mackie Academy37 McLaren High School

38 Peebles High School39 Peterhead Academy40 Plockton High School41 Port Glasgow High School42 Portobello High School43 Portree High School, Skye44 Queen Anne High School,

Dunfermline45 Sanquhar Academy46 St Joseph’s Academy, Kilmarnock47 St Maurice's High, Cumbernauld48 St Paul’s Academy, Dundee49 Ullapool High School50 Waid Academy, Anstruther51 Websters High School, Kirriemuir

Abbey College, HuntingdonAbbey School, Ashby-de-la-ZouchAbraham Moss High School, ManchesterAccrington Academy, West AccringtonActon High School, ActonAdams' Grammar School, NewportAkeley Wood School, BuckinghamAlperton Community School, StroudArthur Mellows Village College, PeterboroughAshby School, Ashby-de-la-ZouchAshton Community Science College, PrestonAylesbury High School, AylesburyBabington College, LeicesterBeauchamp College, OadbyBeaumont Leys School, LeicesterBeechen Cliff School, BathBelvoir High School, BottesfordBethlem & Maudsley Hospital School, BeckenhamBilborough College, BilboroughBirkenhead School, PrentonBishop Stopford's School, EnfieldBishops Stortford College, Bishops StortfordBolton School Boys Division, BoltonBolton School Girls' Division, BoltonBottisham Village College, CambridgeBrookvale High School, GrobyBroughton Hall High School, LiverpoolBurton Borough School, NewportCallington Community College, LauncestonCantell Maths & Computing, Southampton,Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, LiverpoolCardinal Newman Catholic High, WarringtonCarres Grammar School, SleafordCatmose College, OakhamChace Community School, EnfieldCharlton School, WellingtonChatham Grammar School for Boys, ChathamChelsea Academy, LondonChesham Grammar, CheshamChesham Park Community College, CheshamChichester College, ChichesterChigford Foundation School, Waltham ForestChipping Sodbury School, Chipping SodburyCity of Leicester, LeicesterClaremont High School Academy, KentonCleeve School, Bishops CleeveColne Park high School, ColneColne Primet High School, ColneColyton Grammar School, DevonConsett Community Sports College, ConsettCramlington Learning Village, CramlingtonCressex Community School, High WycombeCrownhills Community College, LeicesterCulverhay School, BathDallam School, MilnthorpeDartford Grammar School, DartfordDartford Grammar School, Dartford,Darwen Academy, DarwenDe Aston School, Market RasenDeer Park, CirencesterDenbigh School, Milton KeynesDerby High School, LittleoverDr Challoners Grammar School, AmershamDunottar school, ReigateDurham Community Business College, Durham JohnstonComprehensive School, DurhamEgglescliffe, Stockton on TeesEllesmere College, LeicesterEnglish Martyrs R.C school, LeicesterEsher C of E High School, EsherExcelsior Academy, NewcastleFarnborough School Tech College, NottinghamFazakerley High School, LiverpoolFeltham Community College, FelthamFyndoune Community College, DurhamGaribaldi College, Forest TownGateacre School, LiverpoolGillingham School, GillinghamGleed Boys’ School, SpaldingGloucestershire College, CheltenhamGosforth Academy, NewcastleGreat Sankey High School, Great SankeyGroby Community College, GrobyGryphon School, SherborneGumley House Convent School, IsleworthHalewood Centre for Learning, LiverpoolHampstead School, LondonHampton College, PeterboroughHarlington Upper School, DunstableHarris Boys Academy East Dulwich, East DulwichHartpury College, HartpuryHatch End High School, HarrowHaven High Technology College, BostonHazeley School, Milton KeynesHigh School for Girls, GloucesterHillside High School, BootleHinchingbrooke School, HuntingdonHinchley Wood School, Hinchley WoodHolland Park School, LondonHolsworthy Community College, HolsworthyHuish Episcopi Academy, Langport

Hummersknott School & Language College, DarlingtonHuxlow Science College, IrthlingboroughImberhorne School , East GrinsteadImpington Village College, CambridgeIoP, CardiffJohn Colet School, WendoverJohn F Kennedy Catholic School, Hemel HempsteadJohn Hampden Grammar School, High WycombeJohn Port School, EtwallJudgemeadow Community College, LeicesterKenton School, NewcastleKettering Science Academy, KetteringKing Alfred School, HighbridgeKing Edward VI Grammar school, ChelmsfordKing Edward VI school, LouthKing Edward VII school, Melton MowbrayKing Edward’s High School for Girls, BirminghamKing Henry VIII School, CoventryKirkby Stephen Grammar, Kirkby StephenLadybridge High School, BoltonLakers, ColefordLancaster Royal Grammar School, LancasterLancaster School, LeicesterLathom High School, SkelmersdaleLeicester Grammar, Great GlenLewes Old Grammar School , LewesLitherland High School, LiverpoolLittleaver Community School, LittleoverLiverpool College, LiverpoolLiverpool School Improvement Services, LiverpoolLongcroft School, BeverleyLoughborough High, LoughboroughMadani High School, LeicesterMagdalen College School, BrackleyMandeville, AylesburyManon High School, OadbyMarket Bosworth High School, Market BosworthMarling School, StroudMascalls School, TonbridgeMerchant Taylors’ Boys School, CrosbyMill Hill County High, Mill HillMilton Keynes Academy, Milton KeynesMiss K Ball, ExeterMoat Community College, LeicesterMoorend Technology College, Crosland MoorMoorside Community Technology College, ConsettMosslands School, WallaseyMount St. Joseph College, BoltonNenegate School, PeterboroughNew College Leicester, LeicesterNewport Girl’s High School, NewportNoel Baker School, AlverstonNorth Kesteven School, LincolnNorthfleet Technology College, NorthfleetNotre Dame RC School, PlymouthNottingham Girls High School, NottinghamNottingham High School, NottinghamOakham School, RutlandOasis Academy Hadfield, EnfieldOckbrook School, OckbrookOrton Longville School, PeterboroughOur Lady of Queen Peace, SkelmersdaleOxted School, Oxted,Parkside Community, ChesterfieldParkside Sports College, CrookPate’s Grammar School, CheltenhamPeele Community College, Long SuttonPhoenix High School, Shepherd’s BushPhoenix School, DawleyPimlico Academy, LondonPortsmouth High School, SouthseaPrinces Risborough School, Princes RisboroughPudsey Grangefield School, PudseyPurbeck, Stantonbury Campus, Milton KeynesQueen Elizabeth School, Kirkby LonsdaleQueen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, FavershamRawlin’s Community College, QuornRedbourne Upper School, AmpthillRidgeway School, PlymouthRiverside Business & Enterprise College, LeicesterRiverston School, Lee GreenRivington & Blackrod High School, BoltonRobert Manning College, BourneRobert Smyth School, Market HarboroughRoseberry college and sixth form, Chester-le-StreetRoyal Latin School, BuckinghamRushey Mead school, Leicester,Sacred Heart, NewcastleSacred Heart School, LondonSedbergh School, SedberghSettlebeck School, SedberghSevern Vale School, QuedgeleyShenley Brook End School, Milton KeynesSherborne Girls School, SherborneSir Charles Parsons School, NewcastleSir Christopher Hatton School, WellingboroughSir John Lawes School, HarpendenSir Jonathan North, LeicesterSir William Ramsay, HazlemereSoar Valley College, LeicesterSouth Wigston High School, South Wigston

South Wirral High School, EasthamSouthall School, DawleySouthwolds Community School, KeyworthSpalding Grammar School, SpaldingSponne School, TowcesterSpringwood High School, Kings LynnSt Albans School, St AlbansSt Chad’s High School, RuncornSt Christopher’s CE High School, AccringtonSt Cuthbert’s High School, NewcastleSt Edwards School, PooleSt George’s Academy, SleafordSt James’s High School, BoltonSt John Fisher Catholic High School, PeterboroughSt John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, GravesendSt Josephs College, Trent ValeSt Josephs RC High School , HarwichSt Julie’s Catholic High School, LiverpoolSt Leonard’s RC School, Durham, DurhamSt Mary’s College , CrosbySt Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive School, LongbentonSt Michael’s Catholic College, BermondseySt Osmund’s School, Rothesay RoadSt Peter St Paul Catholic High School, LincolnSt Peters RC School, GloucesterSt. Francis’ College, LetchworthSt. Simon Stock Catholic School, MaidstoneStafford Sports College, StaffordStamford High School, StamfordStowe School, BuckinghamSunninghill Prep School, DorchesterSydenham School, LondonSydney Russell School, DagenhamThe Angmering School, AngmeringThe Beaconsfield School, BeaconsfieldThe Belvedere Academy, LiverpoolThe Bemrose School, DerbyThe Blandford School, Blandford ForumThe Buckingham School, BuckinghamThe Catholic High School, ChesterThe Derby High School, BuryThe Douay Martyrs School, IckenhamThe Fallibroome Academy, MacclesfieldThe Grange, AylesburyThe Heath Specialist Technology College, RuncornThe Hermitage, Chester le StreetThe Kings Academy, Coulby NewhamThe Kings School, PeterboroughThe Manor School, CambridgeThe Marlborough School, WoodstockThe Marlborough School, WoodstockThe Peele Community College, SpaldingThe Priory Academy LSST, LincolnThe Priory School, HitchinThe Queen Katherine School, KendalThe Queen’s School, ChesterThe Radcliffe School, Milton KeynesThe Ravensbourne School, BromleyThe Samworth Enterprise Academy, LeicesterThe St Gothlac School, CrowlandThe Voyager School, WaltonThe William Allitt School , NewhallThe Woodroffe School, DorsetThe Wycombe Grange PRU, High WycombeThomas Deacon Academy, PeterboroughThomas Hardye School,, DorchesterTiverton High School, TivertonTonbridge School, TonbridgeTorquay Boys Grammar School, ShiphayTuxford School, TuxfordUniversity Academy Liverpool, LiverpoolUppingham Community College, UppinghamVandyke Upper School, Leighton BuzzardWadham School, CrewkerneWalbottle School, NewcastleWalderslade Girls’ School , ChathamWalker Technology College, NewcastleWalton High, Milton KeynesWarrington Collegiate, WarringtonWatford Boys Grammar, WatfordWembley High Technology College, WembleyWest London Academy, NortholtWesthoughton High School, BoltonWestleigh High School, WiganWestwood Girls College, LondonWetherby Preparatory School, LondonSt Hughes Mathematics & computing College, GranthamWhitecross, LydneyWhitgift School, CroydonWilliam Brookes School, Much WenlockWinstanley College, WiganWinstanley Community College, BraunstoneWirral Grammar School for Girls, BebingtonWolgatston High School, PenkridgeWoolsthorpe Manor, StamfordWrenn School, WellingboroughWrockwardine Wood Arts College, TelfordWrotham School,, Sevenoaks,Wye Valley School, Bourne EndWymondham High School, Wymondham,Yeovil College, Somerset

Schools with Teachers Trained and Equipped by the OEC inEngland, May 2013

COMPLETE KIT FOR SOLAR CELLS IN ACTION ACTIVITIES

Distance Travelled (m) by Buggy againstCharging Time (sec) for 0.22F Capacitor

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Chargi ng Time (sec)

Dis

tan

ce

Tra

ve

lled

(m)

Dis tance trave lle d ( m) w it h25 W

tungst en spotlig ht at 15 cm

Dis ta nce trav elle d (m) wit h 1 1Wfluore sce nt s potligh t at 15 cm

Distance Travell ed (m) by Buggy against fil ter used

with 11W Fluorescent Spotl ight at 5 cm for 4 minutes and 0.22F Capaci tor

0

0. 5

1

1. 5

2

2. 5

No filter Red f ilte r Gre en f ilter Blue f ilter

Filte r Cond ition

Dis

tanc

eTravelle

d(m

)

5 buggies and solar cells

1 x fluorescentspotlight

5 x tungstenspotlights

FEEL THE POWER SAVING!

HAND CRANKED 12 VOLT GENERATOR USED TO ENERGISESWITCHED WHITE LED AND HALOGEN SPOTLIGHTS OF

EQUIVALENT BRIGHTNESS

COMPLETE KIT FOR ILLUMINATION & COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES

3 WATT WHITE LED SPOTLIGHT 20 WATT HALOGEN SPOTLIGHT

COMPLETE KIT FOR COLOUR VISION AND DISPLAYS ACTIVITIES

LC SHUTTER OFF LC SHUTTER ON

Our Sponsors

The Rank Prize Funds, http://www.rankprize.org

http://www.wolfson.org.uk

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

The MacRobert Trusthttp://www.themacroberttrust.org.uk

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk

http://www.dstl.gov.uk

www.royalcommission1851.org.uk

http://www.selexgalileo.com

The Photonics Knowledge Transfer Networkhttp://www.photonicsktn.org

http://www.cdtltd.co.uk

http://www.thornlighting.co.uk

http://www.iop.org

http://www.iopscotland.org

http://www.thalesgroup.com

www.e2v.com

We also gratefully acknowledge support from the following:

The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation

The Hector Trust

ASE www.ase.org.uk/

Acknowledgements and thanks

None of this would have been possible without the help of the following

Professor C Hilsum CBE, FRS, FREng and Professor Wilson Sibbett CBE, FRS, FRSE and other members of theOptoelectronics Advisory Committee of the Rank Prize Funds

Mrs J Delaney and Mrs S Bristol and other staff of the Rank Prize Funds

Mr Stuart Farmer, Mrs Helen Pollard, Mr Bob Kibble, Mr Gordon Doig, Mr Alex Munro, Mrs Rhona Goss, Mr BrianRedman and many other Science, or Physics, teachers

Craig Harvey, Paul Neil and Ken Boyd of FifeX Ltd, Mr Alex Munro of JJM Electronics, and Mr Peter Stensel andMrs Fiona Austin of Mindsets Ltd

Professor Miles Padgett, Professor Catriona Bryce and many academic researchers

To all of these, I offer my deep and heartfelt thanks.

Professor Ian A Shanks OBE, FRS, FREng, FRSE

Founder of the Optoelectronics College