Polymer Study Tours Success in 2013

Once again in 2013 the BPF has supported this initiative which offers a free 3½ day residential course to 60 secondary school science and design technology teachers.  The Tours have been approved for Professional Development by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and teachers who complete the course will receive a certificate of attendance for their portfolio. The Tours take place at three universities Napier Edinburgh, Manchester and London Metropolitan. Over the previous 28 years more than 2900 teachers have taken the opportunity to attend.

The role the BPF plays is pivotal to the success of the Tours. Not only does the BPF act as a link to the sponsors, via Fozia Ghadiali, it also manages the finances.  In addition, over the years, several BPF Groups have sponsored the Tours. For example in 2013 the Polymer Distributors and Compounders Group were a Gold Sponsor for a second year running and the EPS Group was a Bronze sponsor again. The courses are organised by the founder sponsor, the Worshipful Company of Horners Educational Trust.  The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining helps to promote the course and manage the delegate administration.

Delegates are given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of plastics and rubber technology and are provided with sources of material relevant to the current curriculum. This is achieved through a mixture of lectures, discussions, laboratory sessions and, importantly, industrial visits where modern plastics processing can be observed at first hand. For many of the delegates this is their first experience of viewing plastics processing close up. The course leaders and lecturers are a mixture of leading academics and industry professionals. Teachers also benefit from meeting in an informal environment to exchange views on technologies that form part a number of different exam syllabuses. An innovation this year has been to give a memory stick to the delegates containing the course material from all three universities.

The role of polymers in society forms a major part of the course. This often generates a lively debate informed by facts not speculation. 

Bookings for 2014 Tours can be made using the form available on the link below for the Teacher leaflet. BPF members are encouraged to publicise the Tours to their local secondary schools.

Any companies or BPF Groups wishing to sponsor can get details from the Sponsor’s link below.  The organisers are particularly keen for companies to enhance their links with local schools through sponsoring a teacher. 

https://www.bpf.co.uk/Plastipedia/Polymer_Study_Tours.aspx

The quotes below are examples of the very positive feedback received from teachers. They obviously leave the Tours enthusiastic about our industry both as a contributor to society and as a prospective place of employment for their pupils. 

"The Tour was fantastic!  I found the visits and workshops invaluable to my knowledge and understanding of materials and manufacturing and the confidence I have gained will undoubtedly be of benefit to my pupils."

"The mix of science and D&T teachers allowed me to see how a subject can be approached from different angles."

"This was a professional and inspiring course and I will highly recommend it to my colleagues."

"The opportunity to spend four days with an outstanding group of experts looking at an important part of the syllabus has been invaluable."

The organisers of Polymer Study Tours would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support of this excellent programme
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For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities for 2014 please contact Ms Fozia Ghadiali on 020 7457 5003 or email [email protected]