Students at saltash.net community school are benefiting from their new Earth Science Centre. The school, already a specialist science and mathematics and computing college, is now providing extra resources for lessons involving all aspects of the earth sciences. The centre is funded by the ALSF Partnership – a partnership between English Nature and the Countryside Agency's landscape, access and recreation arm – through Defra's Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund. Gordon Neighbour, centre founder, said: 'We are really grateful for the support that we have had for this project from English Nature through the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund for this work, which is allowing us to fulfil our ambition to become a specialist in teaching geology in the region.' The project is being used to increase teaching and learning opportunities at the school and in the wider community. In addition to the teaching equipment, the funding is also allowing the school to create an outdoor teaching area utilising large boulders from various quarries in the region to form a geological garden and sensory pathway which will allow all members of the community to access geology. The funding has allowed the school to buy equipment that would not normally be available for students until they study geology at university. Mr Neighbour said: 'Geology is a science that can really engage students when taught well and this funding will allow us to make sure that the teaching and learning opportunities are available for students.' The school will be offering GCSE geology to a group of students in September.
