Driving Innovative Practice Through Partnership in Primary Science

As part of their Playful Approaches to Science module, Year 3 and 4 BEd students have worked in partnership with staff from St Anne’s primary school, Belfast to deliver meaningful, hands-on, and purposeful science lessons.

Since October, the students have engaged with children from Nursery to Primary 7 delivering extended playful science topics including Celebrations, Autumn, Titanic and Dynamic Earth.

On 29 January 2026, the partnership culminated in a Science Showcase event hosted at St Anne’s PS. This provided an opportunity for the student teachers to share their practice with staff and children from across the entire school. They created interactive displays including practical demonstrations used in their lessons.

Supported by their trusty pupil helpers, the student teachers offered an engaging taster of playful science. The screams, laughter and thoughtful questions throughout the day reflected the enthusiasm, excitement and enjoyment shared by children and adults alike. Children tried to escape the Titanic, became Marvel Masters by using their senses to identify mystery objects, blew up balloons using vinegar and baking soda, and explored floating and sinking with the help of Ali the puppet.

A BEd 3 student reflected on her experience of the event: “[The showcase] was a great experience, highly valuable and something I will take into future practice!”

Josephine Mallon, Vice Principal of St Anne’s, had this to say about the partnership:

“Our long‑standing partnership with the Science Department at Stranmillis University continues to be mutually beneficial and deeply valued within our school community. The science students who visit bring with them a wealth of subject knowledge, supported by tutors who are both passionate and playfully engaging. This combination benefits not only our pupils, who are always excited for their visits, but also our teaching staff. Sessions are consistently well prepared, and the reflective conversations that take place between visits contribute directly to the high‑quality learning experiences our pupils receive.”

The collaboration has encouraged us to further develop our use of scientific language and strengthen the teaching of key scientific skills. In particular, it has helped us refine our approach to inquiry‑based learning and adopt more playful, curiosity‑driven methods in the classroom.

They have supported us in reviewing and updating our science planning and have played a significant role in reigniting our enthusiasm for the subject. The impact was especially evident during the recent Science Fair, which served as a vibrant showcase of the partnership’s success. The hall was buzzing with excitement and intrigue as pupils engaged with hands‑on activities and shared their discoveries. A particular highlight was where our pupils, paired with their science teaching student, took great pride in acting as experts at their own stalls. The sense of ownership, confidence, and joy they displayed while sharing their learning with peers and visitors was remarkable. The event also created meaningful opportunities for different year groups to come together and celebrate science collectively.

It is a privilege to work with Stranmillis University. This partnership enriches our curriculum, inspires our staff, and brings extraordinary learning experiences to our pupils. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and building on its many strengths in the years ahead.”

 A P5 teacher from St. Anne’s valued the coteaching experience: “Having a science student take the lead in our P5 lessons made a real difference to the children’s experience while we were learning about the human body. She planned and delivered practical activities that the children absolutely loved. They were fully involved from start to finish. The pupils responded well to the practical approach. Whilst she was leading the session, I was able to step back and watch how engaged the children were. They were curious, focused and excited to take part. The class benefited from having another adult who could guide them, answer questions and support their discussions as they worked. We really appreciate the partnership between Stranmillis and our school, and the children greatly benefit from it.”

Anna from Primary 6 enjoyed the Science Showcase: “We got to wear gloves, hats, bandanas and pin badges to attract people to our science stand. I really liked helping the other pupils to understand, especially the P3 pupils. It was like being a teacher and was lots of fun.”

Clodagh and Faye from Primary 3 too, enjoyed being teachers: “We loved it! We had a book with all our work and photos in it. We were asked lots of questions by P3, P4, P5, P6 and even P7 pupils, the oldest pupils in our school – We were the experts. We love learning about science.”

In the next stage of the project the teachers and student teachers will continue to embed playful approaches into their own science lessons independently and will share their experiences and reflections later in the school year.

Dr Andrea Doherty and Dr John McCullagh would like to extend their sincere thanks to all the staff at St. Anne’s PS for their hard work and dedication throughout this partnership. Their support, expertise and enthusiasm greatly enriched the experience, inspiring both Stran students and tutors alike. They would also like to acknowledge the Senior Leadership Team at St. Anne’s, whose guidance and commitment ensured the project ran smoothly. Their encouragement and leadership strengthened the confidence of the student teachers and enhanced every stage of the programme. A special word of thanks goes to the wonderful pupils, who reminded us all why we are so passionate about education.

Finally, to the Stran students — you have made the Science Department immensely proud. Your enthusiasm, creativity and teamwork demonstrate the powerful impact that a dedicated group of educators can make.