British Science Week 2026
Jo Montgomery, Teacher, Trainer and Education Consultant
Cathy Priest, Training Lead, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion:
My tough question to think about is, ‘why don't people care more about climate change when the science is so clear?’.
How do I encourage curiosity in class?
Encourage students to ask 'big questions' in science lessons relating to how science links with other subjects, like RE which explores meaning and purpose questions e.g. what are humans here for as well as how did they evolve? Or what does death mean spiritually as well as scientifically?
Jennie Crompton-Muir, Primary Teacher and Science Lead
How do you encourage curiosity in your pupils?
Time to play and explore. This is done so well and opportunities are ample in EYFS but often when the national curriculum expectations of knowledge and skills are planned for in mid term plans from Year 1, the time for this magic is often lost. Allowing time for pupils to explore ideas and principles is not only essential for them to secure knowledge but also to inspire them to want to know more, creating a culture of questioning and enquiry.
Tricky science questions:
Always the ones which show such depth of thought at such a young age when the science behind it is so complex. Finding a balance between keeping the truth of the science whilst not overloading the child, e.g. a recent question I had was ‘why are the colours in the rainbow always in the same order?’
Encouraging questioning
Victoria Wong, wrote for SSR back in 2023 on the topic, Encouraging questioning, we have made her article open access.