Pembrokeshire charity the Darwin Centre which has been engaging communities and schools in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths since 1994 sees its flagship education programme reach its 13th anniversary.

The Darwin Experience sponsored by Dragon LNG, Waterston, was launched in October 2005 and has since provided over 30,000 of Pembrokeshire’s young people with FREE hands on experiential fieldtrips and workshops.

The 2018/19 academic which has just begun, sees the project enter the third and final year of a case study trailing a new programme of work which is developed to support the incoming new curriculum for Wales, due for full role out in 2020.

Over the last three years around 700 pupils from the Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock area of Pembrokeshire have been taking part in the education initiative which sees the Darwin Centre work closely with the schools, teachers, Pembrokeshire County Council, and representatives from ERW (Education Regional Working).

The project has received sector leading practice form Welsh Government and has gained the interest of education authorities outside of Pembrokeshire.

Working with year 4, 5, and 6 pupils on an expert led syllabus, with teacher guidance notes, and ideas around extension lessons across the curriculum, the project is breaking new ground. With liaison directly between the primary and secondary schools there is a new level of understanding and support which is helping to shape new ideas for pupil development.

Teachers are feeding lessons which are inspired by the programme into a shared database so that other teachers in the cohort can share their best practice. Alongside the case study the Dragon LNG Darwin Experience is also committed to working with all schools in Pembrokeshire.

The case study comes to an end in July 2019 and a full report will detail all of the learning and outcomes. Darwin Centre Executive Director Marten said: “I would like to thank Dragon LNG for their continued support which has made the last 13 years and this very important case study possible, I would also like to thank all the Heads, teachers and pupils, and in particular Kate Andrews from ERW/ Milford Haven School, and Kate Evan- Hughes, Director of Children and Schools, Pembs County Council.”