What is Space School?

The Activities

The Space School has something to offer all ages from 5-18, including:

Residential Programme

Each year Careers Scotland arranges for 3000 S4 students from Local Education Authority schools to participate in the Space School. Subsequently, 50 are selected to attend Space Camp at Space Center Houston, NASA’s official visitor centre in Texas.

A further 120 students attend a summer school hosted by the University of Strathclyde which focuses on electronics and life sciences. This is supported by NASA astronauts and scientists, Scottish Enterprise Cluster teams and the University of Glasgow.

Both Space Camp and the Summer School are life-changing experiences for the young people, as one former student states:

"The Space School has completely transformed my outlook on life and my future, and I now feel a career in science and technology is within my grasp."

Blast off to Science: NASA Visit Programme

In June each year NASA astronauts and scientists visit Scottish schools as part of Careers Scotland’s Festival of Science and Enterprise. Each Local Education Authority is offered the opportunity to ‘host’ an astronaut for a day, to address pupils in S1 to inspire them to select two science subjects for study at Standard Grade. Blast off to Science links in with the 5-14 Curriculum (Earth and Space)

Around 25,000 pupils will attend this year’s ‘Blast off to Science’ event. Astronauts and scientists will also visit primary schools and high schools, assisting in science lessons for older pupils.

Getting involved

As a pupil, you will:

Have an interest in Science, perhaps a possible career option
Be prepared to give commitment to Space School modules
Complete modules in a timely fashion
Take part in workshops
Be willing to be an ‘ambassador’ for your school and Scotland

Supporting Teaching and Learning

In addition to giving the students an exciting educational experience, the Space School provides teachers with a context for the application of classroom based knowledge and skills. For example, NASA modules complement Unit 7 of Standard Grade Physics, (in particular the topics on Rockets, Interplanetary Flight, Gravity and Weightlessness, Artificial Satellites and Projectiles and Re-entry).

The Space School works closely with NASA educators, offering CPD opportunities for up to 100 science teachers nationally. So far, around 20 teachers have attended Space Camp in Houston or summer school at Strathclyde.

As one teacher commented:

"Space School may turn out to be the defining moment in the careers of many of our young people; it has certainly inspired me to motivate my pupils towards science."