Schools in the London Engineering Project (LEP) are evaluating the British Science Association CREST Star Investigators activities to feed into the development of the scheme. The LEP is a new initiative that engages pupils of all ages with science, technology, engineering and maths activities.

Joseph Lancaster Primary School is a pilot school for the LEP. Their CREST Star Investigators club started in October 2006.

CASE STUDY
By Jeannine Shardlow, Primary Science AST
Joseph Lancaster Primary School, SE1 6AF

Club name: Joseph Lancaster CREST Star Investigators

Club date and time: Every Thursday, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Club organisers: Two teachers from the school – Tania Ferendinos and myself.

Club members: 16 Year 6 pupils and there’s a waiting list!

Example club activities:
- Terrific teeth (‘Bright Smile’ and ‘Buy them and try them’)
- Tomato sauce
- Crafty rafts
A typical activity spans two sessions. Usually, the planning and preparation is one week and the investigation and feedback is the next. We ensure that there is time for fun and learning to be embedded. 

Club materials/resources
The resources needed are everyday, inexpensive materials.  Often, the children make the resources from simple materials as part of the activity preparation. 

Benefits for club members:
• More experience of thinking through problem-solving in a less formal environment. 
• Familiar contexts which make the problems more relevant to their experiences.
• Weekly development of investigation skills.
• Learning as collaborative groups of scientists, which enhances social skills as well as the ability to listen, communicate and to reason. 
• The more relaxed atmosphere of the club encourages them to take more risks with their ideas and suggestions. 
• The activities provide more opportunities for gathering, recording, presenting and analysing data; so often a weak area in science. 
• The activities require minimal writing so the children who struggle with Literacy are not held back in the club and can grow in knowledge, skills and esteem.

Some of our most disaffected pupils are ‘shining’ in science and attending the club for pleasure.  They have a lot of fun, are stimulated and excited by the provision continually, asking us during the previous week, “What are we doing at the Club this week, Miss?”  Even in such a short time, it is clear that the CREST Star Investigators Club has extended children’s enjoyment of finding out, and has encouraged them to BE scientists.

From the teacher’s perspective…
• British Science Association's CREST Star Investigators does the hard work – the planning! The plans are simple to follow, comprehensive, and include a list of resources needed and ideas to use if the children get stuck.
• It also gives some background science information, so you don’t have to be a scientist to run the club. 
• It allows adults and children to learn together. 
• The activities require minimal resources and cost. 
“Being part of the club has provided an opportunity for me to enrich my relationship with the members and get to know them at a less formal level which is a pleasure.  I teach science all day and still look forward to the Club after school”.