|
 |
NSC Home Page > EUAS Contents > Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION
Executive Summary
The quarrying industry has the potential to provide the country's most diverse outdoor classroom. No other industry or sector can compete with the range of experiences on offer. Variety is exhibited not only in terms of subject matter but also in respect of appeal to all ages from pre-school to senior citizens groups - all have something - often something surprising, to learn.
In brief, the study examines these opportunities sector by sector and subject by subject; it looks at existing initiatives, provides a pointer to new opportunities and templates for how companies, and educators and learners, can develop these ideas further.
Many themes are obvious but many are not readily apparent. What other industry employs skills as diverse as explosives or marine engineers, and falconry? No other industry handles a greater tonnage of materials. Few can claim a presence from the southern Cornish coast to the Scottish border in both rural and urban areas. Some quarry handworking techniques (though not in the aggregates sector as such), differ little from those used by the Romans, whereas most of the industry relies on high capital investment and computerisation. The industry is also a major positive player in the environment, probably creating more nature reserves than any other, planting millions of trees and has a major role in combating pollution from power stations, industrial processes and former collieries.
Aggregates sites include not only quarries and related processing plants, but rail depots, marine wharves/dredgers, asphalt and concrete plants. The study also embraces the estates which the industry occupies as part of this process, together with areas restored to other uses after working.
The document comprises a review of information available, policies and initiatives in the education and industry sectors, research conducted as part of this report and pertinent findings by others, practical guidance and ideas to inspire others to participate.
The document is divided into three key sections, the first profiling the industry, including policies and initiatives, comparisons with other sectors and an indication of the diversity which the industry presents.
The second section covers all aspects of the educational field, dealing in particular depth with schools and the potential there for work in key subject areas, notably science, geography, sustainable development and citizenship. Higher and community education are also reviewed. Across these sectors (and particularly for schools), recent educational policy trends are considered.
Both the education and industry sections carry cross references to other useful information sources.
The third main section is devoted to the logistics of developing relationships between industry, educators and learners. It advises upon the development of audits and strategies, practical issues such as contacting schools/colleges or companies, reviews the types of links including open days and site/school visits and support materials. It also considers carefully, key matters such as health and safety, child protection, transport, legal, financial and insurance aspects. All these take into account differing educational and industrial "cultures".
Many of these topics are then amplified in extensive appendices subdivided into more than twenty specialist sub-sections, which include worked examples of applying quarry-related themes to the curriculum, extracts from the National Curriculum (according to the relevance of the industry), further details of company and Government and other policies, research results, etc.
For the aggregates industry, the report will be of particular use to unit and area managers, those in say HR/PR departments formulating policy, considering new initiatives or commissioning materials. In the education field, the document will demonstrate to most, the surprisingly broad range of teaching and learning opportunities presented by the industry, the materials and services currently available from the industry, and those being planned, together with relevant contact points. Others in local authorities, DfES, HSE, EBPs, field study centres for example, should gain a better understanding of the potential for working with the industry, in providing safe and interesting educational experiences.
The report has been prepared by the National Stone Centre, an independent registered educational charity (No. 516799) with the co-operation of the quarrying industries, a wide cross-section of those involved in education and the many other stakeholders in this field.
The project was made possible by financial support of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Mineral Industry Sustainable Technologies Programme administered by MIRO.