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2021-03-31-accounts

The Discovery Society Annual Report 2021

Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31[st] December 2021.

The Discovery Society was registered as a charity (Charitable Incorporated Organisation – CIO) on 21[st] November 2019. As such its first full year of operation should have been the year ending 31[st] December 2020. There was however no report for the year 2020, as this was not required by Charities Commission rules, and the majority of the society’s activities were severely disrupted by lockdown measures related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions commenced just 4 months after the charity’s registration date.

Our Aims

The charitable object of The Discovery Society is to advance the education of the students at The Bewdley School by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities [not required to be provided by the local education authority] for understanding of and engagement in exploration and scientific research.

Our Research Strategy

The Discovery Society is a Charitable Organisation attached to an 11-18 comprehensive Secondary School with the purpose of encouraging scientific exploration and research. We live in an era where the popular view is that the world is ‘discovered’ and the only ‘new knowledge’ is based around technologies that we create. The world for school age children is so technologically oriented that the fundamental principle which has driven the creation of this charity, is that children need to be encouraged to interact with the natural world and to view finding out how it works as a central component of their learning about science. Without such an impetus we will always struggle to understand both the concept of climate change and the impact of human activity on the other species we share the planet with.

Research Interests

Students at the school follow the National Curriculum for Science for year 7 to 11 (age 11-16). In our Sixth Form students study Advanced Levels in Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry and Physics with Geology on offer but as yet not studied. The curriculum for all of these subjects is prescribed by the examination bodies under the regulation of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC). The core elements of study are therefore determined beyond the institution:

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA Registered charity number: 1186512 • Learning materials are determined by these externally driven curriculum The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BLarrangements Telephone: 01299 403277

Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

We are also partnered with the University of Birmingham Earth Sciences Department (School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences) who will support us with our research, and many of the research interests will draw from the research areas they are currently focussing on. These will include postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. In the event that any of our sixth for students become co-authors in research papers, the drafting and publication processes will be carried out by the professional scientists at the University. This also includes the potential for students to engage in research through Operation Wallacea.

Member Benefits

Aside from the benefits offered by involvement in exploration and research, members will potentially have access to the following accreditations:

Review of Activities

The principle activities planned for 2020 were:

  1. Science week – comprehensive programme of activities planned for 9- 13/3/2020

  2. Spring lecture series – series of 4 after school lectures planned commencing 5/3/2020

  3. Operation Wallacea – planned for 2 staff and 7 students from 11/7/21 to 24/7/21

  4. Duke of Edinburgh – planned offer of Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards

  5. Crest Award – planned offer of Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards

Science Week Plan

British Science Week 9th – 13th March Theme: Our Diverse Planet

All week

Optional activities (students sign up using online form)

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA Registered charity number: 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277

Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

Trip

Friday 13th March: Big Bang Science Fair for 45 year 9 students.

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277 Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

Registered charity number:

Spring Lecture Series Plan

5 March Georgia Jacobs

4-5pm

Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark

Geological Inspirations in Textile Art

Lecturer Bio Georgia Jacobs Representing Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark

Georgia was a Further Education lecturer in Geography and Geology, then a Senior Lecturer and Guidance Manager for Student Services, for a total of 19 years at Halesowen College, from 1983 until 2002. For the first 8 years of her career she taught Geography and Geology to ‘A’ level in secondary school 6th forms. Now retired, Georgia still has a keen interest in these subjects. She is a member and registered speaker on Recreational Geology and Textile Art for the Worcestershire Federation of Womens’ Institutes and also belongs to Geologists in the Geopark as a volunteer.

Lecture Abstract

To show how the geology of AMH Geopark can be used as inspiration for Textile Art: to produce painted and stitched panels, mixed media art boards and sampling sketchbooks. The textiles were created for displays at Bewdley Museum, Wyre Forest Visitor Centre and Severn Valley Country Park, as part of the annual Geofest programme of events.

12 March Dr Karen Cameron Aberystwyth University

4-5pm & 6-7pm Living Ice (glacial microbial ecology)

Lecturer Bio

Dr Karen Cameron Ser Cymru II COFUND Research Fellow at Aberystwyth University

Karen has been studying the microbial ecology of Arctic and Antarctic environments for almost 15 years. In this time, she has amassed over 16 months of field experience in some of the most remote and extreme places on earth. Through her research, she aims to better understand the form and function of microbial communities within glacial environments. She is driven to use this knowledge to predict the impact of climate warming on these rapidly changing, globally important glacial ecosystems, and to investigate the implications of increased glacial melt and periglacial warming on downstream environments. Karen has been awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research Fellowship to pursue her research at Aberystwyth University, and she looks forward to starting a new position at the University of Glasgow in the Spring.

Lecture Abstract

In this lecture we will explore the life that lives on, in, under and out of glaciers. We will look at the challenges that organisms within these environments face; from the extreme cold and lack of nutrients and liquid water, to months of - Head Teacher Dave Hadley ~~darkness followed by intense UV radiati~~ Pryce BSc MSc FRSA on. We will consider some of the Registered charity number: 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BLmechanisms that these organisms use to not only survive, but thrive within these Telephone: 01299 403277

Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

environments. With climate warming casting its shadow over these fragile, fastchanging frozen habitats, it is now more important than ever to understand their current state, so that we can predict how they might change, and what impact that might have in a warming world. Through looking at various research studies that Karen has led, we will get a sense of what it means to explore and work in these magnificent, yet vulnerable polar environments.

19 March Kate Unwin

4-5pm & 6-7pm

University of Worcester

Forensic Biology behind the scenes

Lecturer Bio

Kate Unwin Principal Lecturer in Forensic and Applied Biology at the University of Worcester

Since February 2002 Kate has been a Forensic Biologist and has worked in this area and role since that time, first with the Forensic Science Service as a Reporting Officer and then with Cellmark Forensic Services. She has worked on hundreds of criminal cases, examining evidence, both within a laboratory environment and at scenes of crimes. She has been classified as an expert witness and her areas of expertise include body fluid evidence, damage assessment and DNA profiling and has given evidence in both Crown and Magistrates courts, her first court appearance being at the Old Bailey!

Lecture Abstract

Covering elements of "a day in the life of" as well as some case examples to demonstrate how biological evidence can be used to help the Crown Prosecution Service and the wider community.

2 April Dr Chris Brown University of Worcester

4-5pm & 6-7pm In the company of penguins

Lecturer Bio

Dr Chris Brown Principal Lecturer in Animal Biology/Biology at the University of Worcester

Chris studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and spent a number of years working for the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology where he worked on their sub-Antarctic programme. This included over two years carrying out research on the energetics and ecology of penguins, albatrosses and petrels on Marion Island in the sub-Antarctic.

Lecture Abstract

Marion Island is a small, remote island in the sub-Antarctic that is home to large numbers of penguins, albatrosses and other seabirds as well as fur seals and elephant seals. This talk will describe the island, its wildlife and some of the research I was involved with during my time on the island.

Operation Wallacea PlanHead Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA Registered charity number: 1186512 Proposed Schedule

The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277 Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

11/7/20 Travel to Dominica 12 – 16/7/20 Week 1 - Forest campsite and Caribbean Island Ecology course 17/7/20 Volcanology day 18/7/20 Whale research and transfer to Fort Shirley 19 – 23/7/20 Week 2 - Learn to dive or complete Caribbean reef ecology course 24/7/20 Travel back to UK

Two staff and seven students were scheduled to travel as above, with donations of £5,000 from the Bewdley Old Grammar School charity and £500 from Bewdley Town Council towards costs.

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277 Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

Registered charity number:

Duke of Edinburgh Plans

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered to: Award

Year 10

– Bronze

Year 11 – Silver Award Years 12/13 – Gold Award

Supported by a mixture of after school and weekend sessions, with some expeditions taking place during school time. For example, a typical Bronze expedition will mean 2 large groups each having a 2 day expedition on Friday/Saturday and Sunday/Monday.

Crest Award Plans

The Crest Award was new in 2020 and offered to: Year 8 – Bronze Award Year 9 – Silver Award Years 12/13 – Gold Award

This was launched during science week 9th – 13th March 2020.

Engagement Levels

The level of engagement with all of these opportunities was severely curtailed by the pandemic lockdown restrictions, so was not the launch that the Society had hoped for.

Science Week

The timing meant that this occurred just prior to the first lockdown, meaning that students were fully engaged throughout the week, and it was an excellent launch for the Society.

Spring Lecture Series

Although lockdown did not happen until 23/3/2020, the timing of these lectures meant that the host institutions were beginning to apply their own restrictions during March. As such we were able to offer the first lecture only and then had to cancel all that followed. There were 22 staff, students and visitors present at this first lecture. There was also a summer lecture series in planning which also had to be abandoned.

Operation Wallacea

Following advice from the Opwall Team about restrictions in the Caribbean area, the expedition was postponed until 4[th] July – 16[th] July 2022. We have lost 3 of the 7 students as they have left and started university courses. We are currently recruiting from years 11 and 12.

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were able to proceed in modified format, with engagement levels being very high, with 287 participated in DofE since 21/11/19:

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA Registered charity number: 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277

Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

2019-20 2020-21 Bronze - 66 Bronze - 84 Silver - 36 Silver - 63 Gold – 8 Gold - 30

- Head Teacher Dave Hadley Pryce BSc MSc FRSA 1186512 The Bewdley School, Stourport Road, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BL Telephone: 01299 403277 Email: office@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk - Web: www.bewdley.worcs.sch.uk

Registered charity number:

Crest Award

Lockdown prevented lower school students engaging with Crest beyond science week, with 2 sixth form students completing the gold award.

Future Plans

When restrictions have been fully lifted we plan to relaunch all of the activities described above.

As members of Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark Forum, we are also undertaking to lead our partners in a ‘Heritage Lottery’ bid, to develop a peripatetic ‘time capsule’ with a programme to visit all Geopark visitor centres on an on-going basis. This is planned to run for 5 years in the first instance, with legacy plans built into the project.

Our Finances

To be added following meeting with DRB.

Policy Framework

As all of our trustees and activities fall within the operating environment of The Bewdley School – A Foundation School, all of our operations work within the policy framework of the school. The statutory policies which apply to our activities can be found at:

Our Trustees

We currently have 3 trustees, which we intend to expand as momentum builds:

Name Date first Term Term Relationship to

----- Start of picture text -----
held Ends School
David Hadley- 21/11/2019 4 years 20/11/20 Head Teacher
Pryce 23
Derek Haskins 21/11/2019 3 years 20/11/20 Chair of Governors
22
Catherine 21/11/2021 3 years 20/11/20 Deputy Head Teacher
McDougall 24
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