With funding of £78,000 secured from The Esmée Foundation, the Art and Science Departments in St Mary's University College will run an interdisciplinary pilot with schools in Belfast, Birmingham, Swansea and Glasgow, starting in January 2011.
Mrs Deirdre Robson said:
"There is an alarming and well documented reduction in many pupils' motivation for learning following transition from primary to secondary school. The research team aims to test the idea that interdisciplinary teaching of Art and Science at Key Stage 3 can motivate and inspire learners to engage with education, and contribute to the progression and expression of knowledge and ideas in both subjects."
Participating art and science teachers from the schools will engage in co-teaching and apply flexible timetabling to provide extended periods of learning, in order to facilitate development of pupils' ideas and respond to requirements of the new curricula.
The unique interdisciplinary model developed by the team has already been successfully tested at national level in primary schools, under the title of The Leonardo Effect. The Key Stage 3 pilot will build upon this earlier work.
For further information please contact: Deirdre Robson (Art Department) or Ivor Hickey (Science Department).