The Rt. Hon. David Blunkett, MP
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT

Dear David,

RAISING ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF TEACHER-SCIENTIST PARTNERSHIP NETWORKS

You know how encouraged this LEA is at the firm commitment of the government in raising the educational achievement of all our young people. This matches our own commitment to "Achievement in Bristol", our own Development Plan.

Plenty of "New Vision" is certainly required in meeting these challenges and I am. writing to commend wholeheartedly an innovative scheme proposed by Dr Albone, Director of the Clifton Scientific Trust, which will develop a network of working partnerships between teachers in Bristol schools, primary, secondary and special, with the wider world of professional science and technology. Within this simple concept lies a wealth of opportunity which has yet to be tapped.

The Bristol Education Directorate plans to join with the University of the West of England in developing this scheme with the Clifton Scientific Trust which we see not only as adding an important new dimension to Achievement in Bristol but as providing a potentially very important Exemplar and Model for other LEAs across the country

It is significant that Dr Albone is also opening up a fruitful grass roots dialogue with Japanese science educators in this context through his UK-Japan Science, Creativity and the Young Mind Workshops, (Bristol 1994 and 1996, Tokyo 1998). His Japanese colleagues are convinced that this approach holds great merit for them also.

I hope you are able to take account of this vision as you approach the task of raising achievement in our schools. It is a vision born of first-hand experience and has a major contribution to make.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Riddell
Director of Education

PO Box 57, Avon House, Bristol BS99 7EB. Fax (0117) 903 7693
e-mail: richard_riddell@bristol-city.gov.uk
Richard Riddell, Director of Education

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