Science Learning Centre West Midlands

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The Science Learning Centre West Midlands is one of a network of nine regional Science Learning Centres set up to help teachers make a bigger difference to pupil enjoyment and understanding in science.

This joint initiative between the Department for Education and Skills and the Wellcome Trust was part of a growing concern in the decline in numbers of young people selecting to study chemical and physical sciences post 16.

The West Midlands hub is based on the beautiful Keele University campus.

The hub hosts the team of course developers and provides state-of-the-art facilities for training and conferences.

Centre director Tina Whittaker describes the outreach delivery of courses throughout the West Midlands as an essential part of the service to schools.

"Teachers should be able to access the highest quality science training without the restrictions of long car journeys," she says.

There are five satellite venues, across the West Midlands, selected to make the best use of public transport links or be within an hour reach of most schools.

Participant feedback has been very good from partner venues at Telford, Kidderminster, Birmingham, Leamington Spa and …