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NSC Home Page > EUAS Contents > 14 Summary of industry policies and educational initiatives
APPENDICES
14 Summary of industry policies and educational initiatives
TRADE ORGANISATION MATERIALS
Quarry Products Association (QPA)
The main source of educational materials specifically relating to quarrying, and in particular, aggregates, is the QPA. QPA members account for over 90% of the UK quarrying industry. QPA also includes all the largest companies, some of which have operations Worldwide (see Industry Fact Sheet).
The QPA materials fall into two distinct categories:
(i) items specifically intended for educational users
(ii) general publications which may have educational applicationThe first type is made available to QPA member companies and to educational users.
The key materials were produced in the 1990s, largely by the predecessor organisation, BACMI and most via various outside agencies. By 1997 their content covered much of the then relevant parts of the secondary NC, especially (as might reasonably be expected) science and in particular 'materials' (i.e. under 'chemistry'). To a lesser extent geography, at secondary level had also been served. Most of the material is directed to the secondary curriculum. The main primary support comprises 'Play Safe - Stay Safe' and posters.
Styles and standards of presentation, subject content/coverage and in particular referencing (or lack of it) to the NC, of the paper-based materials vary considerably. Although of course most do not specify links to the NC changes since c1997, and do not necessarily reflect the changing balances between some subjects or new emphases, they still cover much useful ground. More recently, QPA have included educational materials on their website under the heading "Schoolzone". It is understood that QPA is now reviewing all their existing material and plan to update the content and presentation for dissemination mainly via electronic media.
Existing QPA Educational materials
All the items below except "Schoolzone" are paper based.
Rocks Around You
The 'Rocks Around You' units (KS3 Earth Science) still largely apply to mainstream science, and in particular 'Earth science'. They comprise both pupil and teacher publications.SCIP/NSC Workbooks (x2)
(Sand/Gravel and Crushed Rock)
These contain some very useful ideas for classroom and field based activities particular in conjunction with site visits. Mainly tailored to KS3-4 science and geography, some of the ideas could usefully be applied to maths, English (eg role-play) and citizenship/PSHE (decision-making and prioritisation).The Posters
Various posters relating quarrying, the use of limestone and lime and the application of quarried materials in general, a number of which have a rather dated appearance.Play Safe Video and Support Booklet
These carry clear messages and it is understood that they are very widely used in the industry as part of regular safety briefings, especially by local quarry managers, police and others visiting just before the main school holidays. The main target age range (7-11 yrs) is highly appropriate. The presentation is well directed and child-friendly. Related safety signing for use on sites is available in English and Welsh.Green Quarries Project
The project, comprising teacher information, fundraising ideas, seed packs, a rock kit and quarry manager's materials, was run by QPA in conjunction with Learning through Landscapes as a pilot in 2001. From the Evaluation Report, the response from those undertaking the project was generally very positive. It is particularly relevant to ESD and biology and appears to be mainly suited to KS2-3 pupils.Regional Schools leaflets
These very simple A4 folded leaflets were intended to support local events carry basic messages about the geological nature of the two areas concerned (Scotland and West Midlands); they provide a low cost introduction to the areas covered.QPA Schoolzone (www.qpa.org)
This part of the website is divided into three - sections for children, teachers and the "Play safe-stay safe" scheme.The first covers the use of quarried materials in building (and in particular limestone), how quarries operate and the after-use of sites.
The teachers' section describes QPAs "Partners in Education" programme, publications list, a case study (Swanworth, Dorset).
The most extensive part of the educational section is concerned with the "Play safe-stay safe" initiative. This section also contains a useful list of the numbers of operating QPA member sites by each local authority.
(See also "Lifezone" below)
Non-specifically Educational QPA Materials
Overall comment
QPA has also produced some excellent material intended for general public or decision-maker consumption, which older school and college students could find useful as information sources and real life examples.Biodiversity and minerals; Extracting the benefits for Wildlife
Geodiversity: The minerals industry : conserving our geological heritage
Both these publications provide good sources of material which could offer useful reference points, especially for AS/A level projects in biology, environmental science and geology for example. They may also have more general application in 'Education for Sustainable Development' (ESD) projects, especially as teacher briefing/reference documents.Why Quarry?/ Quarrying in Depth
These A5/A4 leaflets have been variously produced since the mid-1990s, cover a wide range of themes and are directed to the general enquirer rather than schools. Much of the content is applicable to KS3/4 CGSE/AS/A level and GNVQ students. They are very much fact sheets and thus offer educational briefing. Titles include Biodiversity, Recycling, Restoration and Archaeology.Whats in a Quarry?
This booklet is an excellent, highly informative booklet, originally intended for the general reader but is a very useful teacher aide.Quarrying Today
This full colour newsletter covers current topics of general and industry interest. Most of the issues are themed and provide a very helpful update on developing issues, including, technical data and interviews with key players.Other Sections of QPA Website
Useful information and statistics are presented on quarry products, the environment/heritage, career contacts and a map showing the distribution of the industry in Britain. Although directed at the adult user, there is much useful information here for schools in particular data for projects. In particular, the three pages entitled "Lifezone" contain air views of sand/gravel and crushed rock plants and a dredger. By clicking onto specific areas, produces drop down boxes describing key parts of the process on site.Other QPA Educational Initiatives
The QPA (and its predecessors BACM and SAGA) have engaged in many other educational initiatives. For example they have exhibited at ASE conferences, supported training courses for company personnel through QPTC/EPIC, produced an educational board game - Borrowed Land (out of print), supported major public science events such as Earth Alert and Scottish Geology Week, organised an educational conference for Minerals 98 in the Natural History Museum, served as a contact point for schools wishing to arrange educational visits to sites, worked closely with many environmental bodies such as Groundwork, Learning through Landscapes and English Nature, are involved in promoting careers in the industry, support major safety campaigns, produced a slide pack to support talks, sponsored exhibits in the Earth Galleries of the Natural History Museum.Other Trade Bodies
As far as can be ascertained, BAA, the only other trade body exclusively concerned with aggregates has not undertaken any educational activities. Of the other organisations associated with quarry products, only the British Cement Association has produced educational materials in recent years (slide pack for lecturers, very informative poster and booklet on the history of concrete - latter available from the NSC - £2 inc. postage). The Stone Federation GB produce information sheets for building professionals and DIY stone users. A number of other organisations e.g. British Lime Association, British Marine Aggregate Producers Association, Silica and Moulds Sands Association are part of, or are affiliated to QPA.COMPANY INITIATIVES
This section is intended to give a general overview of educational work by quarrying companies. Although it is not possible to be comprehensive in coverage, it does review the main initiatives by all the larger companies.Hanson can certainly point to a number of excellent and groundbreaking educational activities, bearing out the company's clear policy in this sphere. Other companies also make a similar offer to schools, e.g. Lafarge plc, in the form of initiatives via wildlife visitor centres, but do not always necessarily make clear the industry linkages or are perhaps not as overt in their presentation of their educational work.
In the small and medium sized sector, a cross section of activities is described, indicating that the scale of operation is not necessarily a barrier to innovation.
Hanson plc (www.hanson.co.uk)
Hanson's educational policy is unequivocal:
"Education is an integral part of our relationship with communities….."
Hanson Annual Report 2001.
"Education
Understanding the role of minerals and their contribution to society is an important part of the education process and has wide-ranging applications in schools. We have over 100 quarries and manufacturing works to visit".Hanson plc - UK Report on environment community and the workplace - Community 2000.
This particular report then continues at page length, describing their education projects in detail.
The company is proactive in its educational policies. Its educational support is the most comprehensive in the industry. The company hosted 10,000 visits to open days in 2002 (most affiliated to Minerals 2002 events). Its main vehicle for school support is a suite of resources under the title 'Material World' comprising a large, corporately commissioned loose-leaf folder, card game and rock kit for use by KS2 (and to some extent KS3) students. The main focus is upon science, environmental issues and geography. New material on citizenship is about to be launched. In addition to aggregates, it also embraces other group products (building stone and bricks). Unit and other managers are given specific training in work with schools.
In addition, Hanson established three educational study centres - East Mendip (Whatley near Frome), Austerfield (near Doncaster) and Great Linford (Milton Keynes). The latter two, are now in part supported by Hanson but operated by others. The East Mendip Centre has two full-time teaching staff and in 2002 was visited by over 3,000 students from more than forty schools, tertiary colleges and universities. It offers opportunities for visiting one of Europe's largest quarries, extensive woodland and a river valley.
Some individual sites have a high reputation for their educational provision, for example Bob Orange at Coldstones Quarry (N.Yorks) has produced literature, built a viewpoint, offers regular tours and customised rock kits for schools.
See also references to Hanson under 'Comparisons with other industries' and also Hanson's corporate publications - "More than just a quarry", and the group's UK Report on Environment, Community and the Workplace (annual).
Lafarge plc (www.lafarge-aggregates.co.uk)
Lafarge encourage school and college visits especially to a number of their major production sites e.g. Mountsorrel (Leicestershire), Thrislington (Durham), Whitwell (Derbyshire), all of which have held open days recently. They have also developed in partnership with others, two significant wildlife visitor centres - Brandon (Warks) (attracting 50,000 visits p.a.) and Whisby (Lincs) (attracting 100,000 p.a.) and have facilitated the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas (Staffs), all of which have educational services and are based at former gravel workings. Local managers' initiatives are supported with in-house guidance and materials eg see leaflet, 'Materials for Building our World'. Partnerships with schools and Wildlife trusts have been developed. At one site, Waterford Heath (Herts), ecology and art are combined very effectively.Leslie Osborne at Mountsorrel (Leics) has special responsibility for the large number of educational visits to that site (which was also the subject of an educational audit by NSC some years ago). Policies and support materials are currently being reviewed to align them to current educational and operational requirements.
Lafarge's educational work is also referred to in the context of cement under 'Comparisons with other industries'. The company also have 31 actively - managed nature conservation areas in England (as at 2001) and a further 8 are planned. Most of these are supervised by arrangement with the local County Wildlife Trust and have some measure of public access and educational usage.
Aggregate Industries plc (www.aggregate-uk.com)
The company does not have a corporate educational policy, although attempts were made to initiate one a few years ago. However, the company supports many conventional school visits, is developing of "Futurepath", a work awareness/training programme for 13-17/18 year olds and has taken a number of initiatives to provide placements for students with learning difficulties. A long-standing scheme at one site (Topley Pike), run as part of courses at a National Park Study Centre, involves role play study of a planning application to extend the quarry. Policies towards education are likely to be reviewed shortly. Its Bardon quarry (Leics) was particularly innovative in holding one of the first large scale open days, attracting many thousands of people in the early 1990s.A number of sites have descriptive viewpoint panels (eg at Bardon and others are being prepared for sites in the south-west), illustrating history, geology, processing and environmental measures. In 2002, open days at the company's quarries in the UK and USA were attended by 12,000 people.
The company produces a Group Sustainability Report.
Foster Yeoman Ltd (www.foster-yeoman.co.uk)
Foster Yeoman is a large family owned firm, operates two large quarries, one in Mendip, the other in a remote area of north west Scotland. The Somerset site, Torr Works, attracts about 2000 visitors annually, mainly from local schools and colleges, but even including some pre-school groups.They are featured on Science Web and produce their own educational materials as well as using those produced by their trade federation. Visits are timed for about two hours and take in a trip around the quarry (with a picnic site and public viewpoint en route), viewing of the large mobile crusher (7 storeys high), the main processing plant and return to an on-site classroom. Some years ago, the company arranged for large monoliths of stone from each of the then twelve EU countries to be transported to and erected at a local college, forming an amphitheatre for performances etc.
Foster Yeoman work in liaison with other firms operating in the area as the Mendip Quarry Producers, in promoting their various educational initiatives.
Tarmac Ltd (www.tarmac.co.uk)
Following the recent merger and reorganisation of the company, it proved difficult to construct an overall picture of its work in the educational field. In the 1990s, the company implemented many innovatory projects including the creation of nature reserves, intepretive trails and publications, some of which (e.g. workbooks on sand and gravel; crushed rock) were taken on by the industry as a whole via the trade federation QPA. The company probably has more interpretive panels at public viewpoints explaining their operations than any other company e.g. at Darlton, Dene Ballidon and Crich Quarries, Derbyshire, Mancetter (Warks), Croxden (Staffs) as well as several sites in Wales. Others are being planned. The possibility of an educational centre is also being considered. The company was a pioneer in coverting former sites to nature conservation after uses.Many sites have public open days (which involve schools) and local managers have in many cases built up very good educational relationships with schools. An example of the latter comprised a series of visits to operations which involved visits by the whole science year group from a number of secondary schools in the Trent Valley and north Nottinghamshire. These focussed upon chemistry/materials (sand, gravel, rock, cement and concrete).
Interesting and innovatory work is being conducted at Dene Quarry, Cromford, where groups are guided to a key viewpoint overlooking the quarry and the Derwent Valley (with its connections to Arkwright and the industrial revolution) as a component of a visit to the nearby National Stone Centre. David Pargetter, the local area manager there has played a major part in establishing community links and schools involvement, particularly on safety matters.
The company has worked closely at one Warwickshire site with the local RIGS group and museum researching a unique assemblage of trilobite fossils. At another operation in Staffordshire, the company's ecological consultant assisted Scouts studying for woodland badges.
The activities based on educational visits to its Swanworth Quarry, Dorset working with the local EBP and the Leeson House Field Study Centre have also attracted much interest.
At Berwick Woods (LB Havering), the company have created London's largest area of wet woodland for old gravel pits and involved schools and community in tree planting. The arts have featured strongly here with artists running workshops for schools in dance and music and there has been a poet in residence.
The company's most recent major educational initiative is seen in its support for a high profile exhibition at the British Museum of archaeological finds associated with mineral working. The display is due to go on tour (see company website for details).
RMC (UK) Ltd (www.rmc.co.uk)
Like Tarmac, the company has undergone a series of recent significant internal changes and is still largely managed on a regional rather than national basis.Over the four years to July 2003, RMC Environmental Fund (derived from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) supported the Greenlink initiative. This engaged 10,000 school pupils from 250 schools and was managed by Groundwork (previously it had been supported by Esso Petroleum and then from 1997 run successfully as a pilot by RMC in South Wales). The scheme involved co-ordinating visits, experiences and information gathering, covering much of the secondary curriculum and collaborating with supermarkets, quarries, football clubs, etc., all projects having a common theme of "controlling waste".
The company (via its subsidiary, Rugby Cement's Benevolent Fund) also supports a Life Education Scheme in Warwickshire Schools concentrating on PSHE-related issues. This involves a full-time educator and a mobile classroom for work with KS1-2 students in the county.
At Attenborough (Notts), the company is working with the local Wildlife Trust to create a major reserve and education centre. At Hatfield, the mounting of a public exhibition to explain a planning application in a local school resulted in an interesting school debate.
Midland Quarry Products Ltd (MQP)(www.mqp.co.uk)
(Joint Hanson:Tarmac Company). MQP controls a number of Midland based rock quarries. At the abandoned Forrest Rock Quarry,15,000 trees have been planted as a component of the National Forest. Public access has been promoted and extensive new paths created with involvement of the local secondary school. MQP have also supported the development of Conkers, the National Forest visitor and education centre, based on former clay and coal workings near Measham. At the company's Cliffe Hill Quarry, intepretive panels describing the geology and the operation of the site are being mounted. Large numbers of school pupils visited the site during a recent open day to mark the opening of a tunnel beneath a village, connecting the massive old and new quarries.Gallagher Group (www.gallagher-group.co.uk)
A family owned quarrying and contracting firm in Kent annually extracting up to 1 million tonnes of ragstone (sandy limestone) from Hermitage Quarry. In the last few years it has held public/schools open days encourages quarry visits, has engaged in bioconservation, has a viewpoint over quarry and has commissioned a series of customised information panels on the following themes (a) uniqueness of ragstone (virtually the only hardstone in southern/eastern England) (b) relationship between quarry products and major construction projects (c) simplified flow diagram of the main plant. A further open day is planned for 2004. Visits by Schools, teacher organisations and local community groups are welcomed. The site has a close relationship with the University of Kingston (student visits and research).Longcliffe Quarries Limited (www.longcliffe.co.uk)
A family run company, member of British Aggregates Association and of British Calcium Carbonate Federation operating quarries in Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak National Park. The company is unusual in being one of the very few independent producers of very high purity limestone (a highly competitive and technologically based sector), the output of which is used in a very wide range of industrial products. In addition to also producing aggregates, Longcliffe has re-established a source of the prestigious Hopton Wood Stone (highly valued for carving and interior decoration/cladding etc).The company has held an open day, hosts visits by local primary and a secondary school, is a regular venue for student groups on particular geology, chemistry and environmental science courses eg from Derby and Leicester Universities and accommodates work placements (mainly in the testing laboratory). It also accommodates tours by children with special educational needs from a Chesterfield school. The company also produces high quality general literature, some of which is used by educational visitors.
Woodhall Spa Sand and Gravel Ltd, Lincs
The company has developed their Kirkby Gravel Pit Lincs. in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust as an important local nature reserve which attracted about 4,000 visitors in 2003 including a number of school groups. This a typical example of many hundreds of sites converted to a nature conservation after-use by large and small companies in the industry.E & J W Glendinning Ltd (www.ejwglendinning.co.uk)
This private company runs a number of quarries in south Devon and is an active member of the Devon Stone Federation (DSF). Gendinning regularly host visits to their large Linhay Quarry near Ashburton, particularly from students undertaking vocational courses at a local further education college, as well as from local schools.Smiths Bletchington (www.smithsbletchington.co.uk)
Smiths Bletchington is a fourth generation family owned and managed firm operating in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. The company has six quarries producing sand/gravel, and limestone. Smiths have developed strong community links over a long period. They have actively responded to requests for visits by amateur (including Rockwatch) and professional geology groups to study the palaeontology of the White Limestone (dinosaur footprints etc) and the terrace gravels, at Ardley and Witney responsively. They work with Herefordshire and Worcestershire RIGS group at their Broadway Quarry to conserve geological features and have good relationships with local groups, particularly at their Gill Mill Quarry near Witney. They help fund and support the Lower Windrush Project (Oxon), alongside the County and District Councils, English Nature, Environment Agency and others, to develop a sustainable countryside with increased public access. They have held open days, involving schools at their operating sites.Other industry-related initiatives
The various activities of the National Stone Centre (author's of this report) (www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk) are described in Appendix 3b. The NSC is an independent educational charity, its brief being to tell the story of stone in the UK. Its educational work includes services to schools and interest groups to its Visitor Centre in Derbyshire as well as an extensive network of relationships with Government agencies/departments at all levels, academia, its voluntary section (e.g.: RIGS) and very many quarry operators.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) (www.bgs.ac.uk) offers a wide range of statistics and data sheets on sectors of the industry downloadable free from their website. They are also the main publishers in the UK of maps and literature on Earth science matters (including the industry). They have recently spearheaded two important projects involving the preparation of geodiversity audits of the North Pennines AONB (Northumberland and Durham) and Leicestershire/Rutland. The latter in particular includes geological trails and interpretation, largely based upon working quarries, particularly in the Charnwood area. They also operate a website www.foundationsofthepeak which offers a virtual tour of two quarrying areas in the Peak District.
The Devon Stone Federation working with the County Council and consultants headed by David Roche, have carried out a geodiversity audit of sixteen active quarries in the county with the aid of ALSF sponsorship. Extremely detailed accounts are available (on disk) relating to each of the sites. (further details - email: drgeo@ukgateway.net).
The Mendip Quarry Producers members include mainly the quarry operators in the East Mendips representing a number of the key national companies as well as locally based concerns. They co-ordinate educational and environmental work in the area, have produced a number of booklets, etc. and support local school visits to the East Mendip Study Centre, Torr Works and other sites. (further details via www.foster-yeoman.co.uk).
The Good Quarry website (ALSF supported) (www.quarry.Leeds.ac.uk/goodquarry) co-ordinated by MIRO and the University of Leeds, has wide ranging industry support and presents much information on quarry working practices, courses, site restoration, community relations, etc.