Abington Partners Science Education Consultancy

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Contents

                  1                                   Understanding your needs  2

                  2                                   Managing the relationship – Our team   4

                  3                                   Our commitment to you – delivering the service  5

                  4                                   Project Timeframe  6

                  5                                   Typical Fee Structure  7

                  6                                   About Abington Partners – our capabilities  8

                  7                                   Appendix 1 – Credentials  9

                  8                                   Appendix 2 – Education Links and Programme Developments  11

                  9                                   Appendix 3 - Science Education  12

 

 


Section 1

Understanding your needs

Background

Abington Partners has been assisting organisations to find the right solution in Science Education for their establishment for the past 23 years, throughout the UK and Internationally. 

Our initial focus, on all customers’ requests, is to understand the key drivers for success in Science Education.  By knowing your key goals and objectives we can give you advice, guidance and support on how these can be achieved within your time frame.

Our methods are driven by your goals and the successes that you wish to achieve.

Our extensive experience lends itself to a variety of consultancy projects, including all elements of project management.  We work within all areas of Science Education and have a comprehensive understanding of the National Curriculum, 21st Century Science, A-Level Physics and the various courses that are held for Science for schools, colleges, academies and other learning establishments both in the UK and Internationally. 

We have been able to assist customers in the following areas:

·         Project Management

·         Science lab design, remodelling, requirements

·         Audit and Review current Science exam offerings

·         Proposal and review of Science staff with future requirements

·         Science classroom teaching

·         Recommendation on equipment for Laboratories

·         Developing worksheets, schemes of work, material for practical and theoretical investigations

·         Installation and Training on Science equipment with staff

Our customers include:

·         Schools across the UK

·         New Academies in UK

·         International British schools

·         International schools

·         Ministry for Education – various countries

From our extensive experience we are able to recommend the right action to take, and become part of the strategic actions for the provision of Science Education at your establishment for now and the future.

The potential strategic actions for your establishment could be as follows:

Ø       Assessment and review of current Science Education status

Ø       Provision of report on recommended actions

Ø       Project management

Ø       Development of Science programme inline with Government guidelines and goals

Ø       Review of goals and objectives


Your key requirements

Our response

 

 

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

Recommendations

 

 

 

 

Project Management

 

 

 

 

Development of Science Programme

 

 

 

 

Review of Goals and Objectives

 

 

 

 

 

Section 2

Managing the relationship – Our team

Our service structure is designed to provide you with one overall point of contact at Senior level whilst at the same time giving you access to specialist services as and when required.  We provide ongoing involvement from key players of the team that ensures both your immediate and pedagogic objectives together with the ultimate strategy and goals are achieved, to time to budget and on target. 

Integrated services

Abington Partners offers the full range of professional services you would expect from a major UK Education consultancy.  We provide an integrated range of services. This means that if you require additional expertise David Crellin will introduce you to the most appropriate Abington Partner specialist and he will be responsible for managing and being involved in the advice given.  He will also be responsible for alerting you to opportunities and helping you anticipate potential problems in time to take action to resolve them.

 

David Crellin

Tel: 01225 850020

david@auc.co.uk

David is the Lead Partner and Manager of Abington Partners.  Responsible for the technical support to aid the programmes success.

David was educated at Rugby, Bristol and Cambridge and has been responsible for many various scientific leaps forward in technology.  His experience ranges from managing extensive development projects to running companies and turning them around to be successful for acquisition.  Success in business and in Science is what David strives for, for all his customers.

 

 

John Quill

Tel: 01225 850020

John is the lead advisor for Science Education at Abington Partners and works with many authorities and establishments to ensure pedagogy is at its best.

John educated at Oxford University, John is an experienced engineer and scientist.  John has been involved in teaching as both a teacher, Head of Physics, Head of Science since 1981.  John is active in both an advisory and teaching capacity and understands completely the issues of teachers today.

 

 

Ewan Bingham

Tel: 01225 850020

Ewan@auc.co.uk

Ewan is an experienced Science Teacher with hands on experience of delivering best practice in the use of ICT in Science.

Ewan provides regular training courses in schools on the use of ICT in Science. Covering all three core science disciplines (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) together with the increased focus on Environmental Science these courses enable more and more teachers to develop best practice in their teaching.

Section 3

Our commitment to you – delivering the service

 

Our clear strategy for service provision to our clients is:

·               To invest time up-front to understand our client’s business and the issues it faces.  We aim to provide a tailored service reflecting individual business needs.

·               A high level of technical expertise linked to a partner led managed service

The benefits to our client is a proactive, quality service that focuses on the key issues producing relevant and timely advice.

 

The services that form part of our main tender are as follows :

Consultancy services for Science Education

Ø       Project Management from start to finish by senior staff members

Ø       Evaluation, Audit and Review of current status

Ø       Evaluation, Audit and Review of Equipment within Science Department

o        Status of useable equipment and any additional equipment requirements, to be at suitable level for each Key Stage

o        Provision of report to substantiate additional requirements

Ø       Advice on Laboratory design and layout

Ø       Advice on ICT provision for the laboratories

Ø       Curriculum Advice and Support

Ø       Project Management

Ø       Equipment Supply list

o        Liasing with suppliers on behalf of client

o        Negotiating pricing on behalf of client

o        Budget allocation and handling on behalf of client

Ø       Installation and Training of equipment provided

o        ICT and Technical equipment

Ø       Technical Support for specific elements of equipment supplied

o        To be agreed in advance, services required

Ø       Ongoing support, advice and marketing information

o        Ongoing invitations to events, special offers and technical information

 

Section 4

Project Timeframe

Typical timetable

Time Proposed

Description

 

 

 

 

 

1 day

Meet, review and confirm proposal

 

Dependant on complexity and team involvement

Advice on Laboratory design, specification, build

 

2 days

Review and Audit Laboratory equipment and Supply definitive list of future requirements

 

2 days (dependant on equipment levels)

Training and Installation

 

Ongoing

Communication, offers, event invitations

 

 

 

 

Available

Technical Support

 

Available

Teaching Support

 

Available

Upgrades and repairs of specific items only

 

Section 5

Typical Fee Structure

 

 

Our fee structure is calculated on the basis of time spent by advisors and the team on the requirements of the project, taking into account the underlying principle of value for money whilst delivering high quality service.

 

In most cases we will provide a fully costed proposal for our clients. The following list provides an overview of how the quoted fees will be calculated:

Item

Fees

 

 

 

 

Audit of current kit.

Audit will identify useable kit and the additional equipment necessary to raise it to an adequate and advance standard for KS3, KS4 and A level.

£500 minimum

(£250 per Laboratory)

Advice on Laboratory and ICT Provision

From £500 per day

Installation and training on software/hardware supplied

 

From £300 per day

Technical Support on software and hardware supplied (dependant on equipment supplied)

 

Dependent on contract details

Ongoing relationship and marketing information and offers

 

Included

Teaching Support

From £300 per day

Upgrades and Repairs

Dependent on contract details


All fees will be excluding VAT and any disbursements.

Section 6

About Abington Partners – our capabilities

About Abington Partners

 

·   A leading Science Education advisory company in the UK

·   Been around for over 22 years

·   Working with leading Education organisations across UK and Internationally

·   Member of BESA, BECTA

·   SMART business awards 1994 Novel O² Sensor

·   SMART business awards

       1998 Novel CO² Sensor

·   SMART business awards

       2003 Novel Distance             

 

Abington Partners is one of the UK’s leading Education providers of Science Consultancy services.  Our clients include Education establishments, local authorities, international ministers and other leading organisations involved with Science Education.

Helping our clients to Improve

Our clients have substantial educational aspirations and use our skills where they achieve greatest value – helping identify and exploit new opportunities for learning and Science.  We only operate in the Education sector providing focused knowledge on Science Education.

The Company has national coverage and is represented internationally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Company’s distinctive features

 

What makes us different from our competitors? We believe we have a number of distinctive features that make us attractive to potential clients:

·   The culture of our company is characterised by a robust focus on technical excellence and a dedication to good client care.

·   Our clients tell us they genuinely value the accessibility of our advisors and are always aware of the current issues.

·   Teamwork is essential. Our people work as a cohesive team – with our clients and with each other.

 

The leading Science Education advisory company

Abington Partners is a leading Science Education advisory service company of the highest quality that is committed to providing the best possible service to the Education industry in the UK and across the world wherever the client needs help.

By serving the Education community for the past 23 years, Abington Partners has evolved into a company with extensive knowledge and understanding of the local and global issues facing Education establishments today.

Abington Partners works extremely closely with a number of suppliers of Science Education equipment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

Appendix 1 – Credentials

 

Appendix

 

·   Grace Academy ongoing  working with Project Team to give full Science Consultancy service

·   Lambeth Academy Executive Summary on how assisted Science supply

·   Business Awards

·   Mobile Bristol                      gave Consultancy services for innovative HP Labs and DTI programme

·   Videologging article for SEP (Science Enhancement Programme)

 

Of the Academies open today, Abington Partners has provided services to 7 of them.

Grace Academy

Grace Academy and Abington Partners started their partnership in July 2005.  Abington Partners have been called upon to complete a full assessment of their Science requirements for the Science Department at this new Academy.

Abington Partners working with the Project Team have been able to enhance the initial ideas surrounding the development of Science Education within the Academy.  The requirements for the project include a full Science audit, evaluation of resources, assistance on lab design, ICT requirements, furniture requirements and project management of the purchasing of these items.  Abington Partners are taking into account the number of laboratories, staff, students and the demands that will be required under the current and new 21st Century Science curriculum.

Abington Partners are working with the Academy for the opening in 2006

 

Lambeth Academy, Clapham

Lambeth Academy is part of the initial wave of the Governments initiative to open 200 new purpose built academies by 2010.   In July of 2004 Abington Partners were called upon to complete an assessment of their Science requirements and then supply sufficient equipment for their first intake of Year 7’s for the opening of the Academy. 

Working with the Project Team, Abington Partners were able to create a list suitable for Keystage 3 teaching and also give advice on how to cater for the future intake year groups.  Abington Partners took into account the number of laboratories, staff, students and the demands that would be required under the current curriculum and the 21st Century Science curriculum. 

Abington Partners managed to assess the needs, bring together a suitable list of requirements, and manage the supply of all equipment to the school on time.  The project timescale of 6 weeks was achieved.

Business Awards

 

SMART business awards 1994 novel O² Sensor

SMART business awards 1998 novel CO² Sensor

SMART business awards 2003 novel Distance Sensor

Mobile Bristol

 

Abington Partners are collaborating with HP Labs and the DTI on the ‘Mobile Bristol’ programme. ‘Mobile Bristol’ is all about investigating how mobile devices and pervasive information technology can be used to enhance the ways in which residents and visitors experience and interact with their physical environment and with each other.

The aim is to explore how wireless technology can enhance how we live and interact with the environment.  Imagine a digital landscape overlaying the physical world.  As we walk around this landscape, we can tap into the digital sounds, sights and interactions that are positioned in the landscape and activated by our presence and actions.  The digital landscape is formed from a dynamic and overlapping set of mediascapes that are context-sensitive combinations of digital media and interactions created and deployed by various authors.   As people walk through the physical environment, a diverse range of digital media experiences to augment the ambiance and bring these spaces alive.

Working alongside HP Labs and the University of Bristol Abington Partners has developed sensor technology for the Mobile Bristol project.  This sensor technology is available in a kit form that integrates with the new 1.7 release of the Mobile Bristol toolkit.  Authors will be able to employ a wide range of sensors to trigger the delivery of digital experiences.  In addition to GPS sensors Abington Partner’s full range of environmental and biosensors can now be used within a Mobile Bristol mediascape.

Video Logging Article for Science Enhancement Programme

Visual Impact of Science Investigations using Videologging

Being creative and finding investigations that don’t just work but engage your students to question and participate, is not an easy task, knowing how best this can be achieved can also be a challenge. The use of visual aids, such as computers, video and data logging equipment, is ideal for Science investigations as the students develop skills to discover and learn.

 

Videologging is a way of tracking moving objects in 2 dimensions together with other sensor data whether these are very slow or changing quickly. Videologging can enhance the curriculum and teaching in Science, sport, geography, citizenship and mathematics.  By using visualisation you can make learning fun and develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of how Science works so your students’ can then make informed decisions and reasoning that relate these tasks to everyday occurrences and real life, logging data and using ICT within their evidence, that makes sense of the world.

 

VisiLog software allows students and teachers to carry out exciting new investigations by capturing video sequences alongside sensor data. Examples of investigations, which can be carried out, include: Measuring ‘g’ using a video camera, investigating how a flower responds to light, investigation of the decay of plant materials, visualising a titration using video colorimetry, how a balloon bursts and many more.

Appendix 2

Appendix 2 – Education Links and Programme Developments

 

‘Participate’

Participating companies: Abington Partners, BBC, BT, Microsoft, Dti, Nottingham University

Future Project in Development

To establish a national programme that relates to Science for the entire nation to get involved.

 

‘Theme Park’

Participating companies: Abington Partners

Project in Development

To develop a Science Education programme, that can utilise the facilities within the park for Science investigations by schools.  Initially viewed as a means to increase uptake of school visits in term time to the park, but could also be extended to include various additional Educational elements for the general public that visit the park.

Appendix 3

Appendix 3 - Science Education

Appendix

 

·   Develop knowledge and understanding

·   Learn about ways of thinking and finding out and communicating ideas

·   Explore values and attitudes to Science

·   Make connections between different areas of Science

·   Use scientific ideas to explain phenomena

·   Advantages and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments for environment in other contexts

·   Carry out investigations of different types

·   Learn how scientists work and importance of experimental evidence

 

Keystage 1&2

  • develop knowledge and understanding of important scientific ideas, processes and skills and relate these to everyday experiences;
  • learn about ways of thinking and of finding out about and communicating ideas;
  • explore values and attitudes through Science.

Keystage 3

  • build on their scientific knowledge and understanding from key stage 2 and make connections between different areas of Science;
  • use scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and events;
  • understand a range of familiar applications of Science;
  • think about the advantages and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments for the environment and in other contexts, considering the reasons for different opinions;
  • carry out investigations of different types, on their own and in groups, making use of reference sources and evaluating their work;
  • communicate what they did and its significance;
  • learn how scientists work and the importance of experimental evidence in supporting scientific ideas.

Keystage 4

Knowledge Skills and Understanding - Teaching should ensure that 'scientific enquiry' is taught through contexts taken from the sections on 'life processes and living things', 'materials and their properties' and 'physical processes'.

·                     a range of domestic, industrial and environmental contexts

·                     considering ways in which Science is applied in technological developments

·                     considering and evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments, including those related to the environment, personal health and quality of life, and those raising ethical issues

·                     using a range of sources of information, including ICT-based sources

·                      using first-hand and secondary data to carry out a range of scientific investigations, including complete investigations

·                      using quantitative approaches, where appropriate, including calculations based on relationships between physical quantities