How long are your programmes (weeks and hours) ?
Our standard programme is 6 weeks, 1 hour per week and held immediately after school. Mad Science can accommodate programme requests varying from 4 to 10 weeks depending on your school’s preference.
What evidence is there of the effectiveness of Mad Science programmes?
Good question, an independent evaluation of Mad Science (2005) by Char Associates found that Mad Science:
- Increased science content knowledge - Pupils who participated in Mad Science experienced a gain of 41.3% in their science content knowledge compared with only 6.4% experienced by comparison group students who did not participate.
- Increased interest in science - Pupils participating in Mad Science experienced an increase of 12.22% in their interest in science compared with a 2.3% increase experienced by comparison group students who did not participate in Mad Science.
- Increased liking of science - Pupils participating in Mad Science experienced an increase of 5.6% in the extent to which they liked science as opposed to decline of 0.83% experienced by comparison group students that did not participate in Mad Science.
- Increased attitude that science is “fun” - Pupils participating in Mad Science showed an increase of 18.6% in their attitude towards “science is fun” compared with a 1.5% increase in a control group (comparison group) of pupils that did not have Mad Science.
What is the cost?
There is NEVER a cost to your school or Parent Association to sponsor a Mad Science after-school science club. There is never a registration fee, deposit or cancellation fee associated with our programmes. The after school programme works out to cost about £7 per lesson per child, an all-inclusive price which includes all the take-home activities.
Do you have a minimum class size? A maximum class size?
Our classes require a minimum enrolment of 15 paid students. To ensure the hands-on, interactive nature of our instruction, class size will be capped at 25. We can run several classes at the same time depending on numbers of students.
What if we get more than the maximum of 25 pupils?
No problem. If the numbers are high enough, we can set-up additional classes to accommodate the students. If this option isn’t available, we usually set up a waiting list for the next term. Remember, there is a national shortage of scientists, we need everyone we can get!
What ages can register?
Mad Science offfers instruction in an age and year appropriate manner using a variety of teaching methods and environments to ensure all participants benefit from instruction. Therefore students aged 5 to 12 are offered the opportunity to participate in our programmes. Should enrolment allow, Mad Science will divide classes by key stage or year level.
Who are your instructors?
All our Mad Science presenters are cleared to work with students through the Criminal Records Bureau prior to teaching students. Additionally, presenters are trained in the subject material they teach to maximise their teaching capabilities. In general we will always endeavour to assign a single Mad Scientist to each group of children as we feel this policy encourages a positive rapport between instructor and pupil and ultimately enhances the quality of our sessions.
What about risk assessment?
We can provide risk assessment text for all of our programmes. Please request this information in advance as copies are kept in the main office and presenters may not have the text with them unless specifically requested.
For more information on our after-school programmes or workshops, contact our office over the phone at 08454 75 75 07 (calls charged at local rates) or 01483 901500; via email at madscienceteam@aol.com (please indicate your interest in after-school ASPs in the subject line).
