1.  INTRODUCTION

  In this submission we provide an outline of W5's governance, funding, activities and the evaluation of a major formal and informal education programme as evidence of the role Science Centres play within the community.

  1.1  Whowhatwherewhenwhy (W5) was incorporated as a Company on 8 February 2000, and is a registered charity. W5 is wholly owned subsidiary Company of the National Museums Northern Ireland. W5 is also part of Odyssey, the Landmark Millennium Project, run by the Odyssey Trust Company Ltd.

  1.2  W5's mission is to "fire the spirit of discover whilst unlocking the scientist and creativity in everyone".

  1.3  W5 provides a learning environment incorporating 160 interactive exhibits, in four dynamic exhibition areas with a changing programme of temporary exhibitions and events. It has 3,500 sq metres of exhibition space together with temporary exhibition space, seminar rooms, lecture theatre and events spaces. W5 has approximately 51 FTEs. (www.W5online.co.uk)

2.  PERFORMANCE AND BREADTH OF DELIVERY

  2.1  W5 was developed to show a modern and interactive element to science and creativity and meet the needs of the Northern Ireland community especially young people in formal and education groups, together with their teachers and families. It provides a comprehensive educational service for 5-19 year olds linked to the National Curriculum in a wide range of subjects focusing mainly on science, technology, geography, geology, information technology and engineering but including media and ethical awareness and personal development.

  2.2  In 2006-07 W5 had 235,135 users. This was made up of 211,061 admissions, 8,857 corporate visitors and 15,217 outreach visitors. W5 went to 121 different outreach locations including schools and community festivals. Visitor enjoyment was 98%. It should be noted that Northern Ireland's population is approximately 1.7 million and our repeat visitation is around 60%.

  2.3  57,303 education visitors from formal or informal educational groups visited of which 44,180 were from schools and colleges. An additional 8,912 education visits were made by pupils from schools in the Republic of Ireland as W5 is a member of the Discovery Primary Science Network an initiative led by Forfas to increase uptake and interest in science from primary schools.

  2.4  W5 delivered a number of major education programmes this year. The Science and Skills Programme for 14-19 year olds was delivered to 12,457 young people from 129 schools and 6 FHE's. W5 also worked with 16-25 year olds in North Belfast as part of an inclusion project using ICT and music to attract young people to engage with education. The sponsored Hands On Science programme with Northern Bank involved 47 rural and urban deprived schools with 3392 participants. In addition the Paul Hamlyn funded programme engage both school pupils and members of the public in seven events sharing the skills of professional artists in the world of cartoons, animation and illustration as a major focus on creativity. W5 enjoyed a continuing partnership with Belfast City Council both in developing workshops to support the Titanic exhibition but also the development plans of the City. Additional programmes were delivered with PPARC, Wellcome Trust funding and Children in Need with W5 visiting children over the summer in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

  2.5  W5 hosted three major travelling exhibitions. Titanic at Home from 10 March to 1 May 2006 in partnership with Belfast City Council. The exhibition told the story of Titanic, those who made her in Belfast and those who sailed with her. W5 used a number of real artefacts to illustrate the story together with live enactments by professional actors. W5's story of the Titanic focussed on the engineering skills and craftsmanship that built her. Lovesport 1 June to 3 September was developed by At-Bristol as part of the consortium that W5 is a member of which was funded by the ReDiscover Fund. Lovesport was a very hands on exhibition where visitors could try their skills at football, agility, basket ball and the background of sporting science and the focus on developing fitness. Animated Adventures 30 September to 4 February was W5's own exhibition also developed with ReDiscover funding. This exhibition highlighted the creative skills of animators, how they come up with an idea and see it to fruition. The exhibition featured the work of Aardman Animations and the making of the Curse of the Were Rabbit and is now touring the UK.

  2.6  The Photographic Gallery hosted five exhibitions Wellcome Trusts Visions of Science 1 April to 14 May, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 17 May to 6 August, Bubble Photography of Tim Durham 28 August to 23 October, A Christmas Carol by PJ Lynch 10 November to 27 January and Digi Film by Kara Pringle 1 February to 17 March.

3.  FUNDING

  3.1  Before opening in 2001 it was recognised that W5 would not be profit making, and would need continual financial support both in terms of capital and recurrent funding.

  3.2  A five year agreement was signed by the National Museums Northern Ireland, Odyssey Trust Company (OTC), which is charged by the Millennium Commission to provide a Science Centre as part of the grant, and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in relation to how W5 would present its Business Plans. A financial agreement between OTC and DCAL for five years stated that DCAL would provide £300k revenue support and £150k capital support per annum to W5 (with no inflation uplift). As OTC was just starting it was agreed that they would provide what they could "afford" which amounted to an average of £220k per annum.

  3.3  Recurrent Expenditure costs such as insurance after 2001 and the cost of inflation meant that amount of funding available put increasing strain on operations, despite W5 achieving targets. DCAL commissioned Capita to review W5 who concluded that W5 was being run in an effective and efficient way but would need continued and additional funding in the future.

  3.4  The Financial Agreement ceased at the end of 2006-07 but W5 was successful in bidding for funding from a Northern Ireland specific fund "Skills and Science Fund". Under this scheme W5 undertook to provide a programme of events designed to encourage 14-19 year olds to pursue science related further education and subsequently scientific careers. This is a two year funding programme ending in March 2008. In addition we applied for and were successful in obtaining other grants from PPARC, Wellcome Trust, BBSRC and Paul Hamlyn. Together with admission and our commercial activities (sponsorship, retail and café) W5 had a very successful year against target. Our Income for the year was £1,745,185 and Expenditure £1,996,863.

  3.5  Capital costs were used for travelling exhibition hire and exhibition development. W5 used £300k of DCAL's funding to match fund two ReDiscover grants for the refurbishment of two of the galleries. The ReDiscover Grants ceased in 2006 and there are no further opportunities for large grants for refurbishment. This is a very serious concern for the sector. It may affect centres ability to attract visitors in the future thereby threatening their viability.

  3.6  W5 developed a second 5 Year Strategic Plan which is currently being reviewed for OTC and DCAL by PwC. This Plan indicates that W5 will require ongoing funding. Visitor numbers have increased but have now stabilised as W5 is in a small and restricted catchment. Expenditure is rising in line with inflation with the exception of energy costs. While the final report of the Plan is expected in the next few weeks, the draft final report indicates that W5's Plan is reasonable.

  3.7  W5 has put in three bids to DCAL for CSR 2007. Firstly the continuation of the Skills and Science Programme for 14-19 years olds, a continuation of the inclusion project in North Belfast and creativity programmes together with a capital bid of £400k per annum to fund travelling exhibitions and assist with refurbishment. It is essential that these bids are successful and that the Capital bid can be accumulated to ensure suitable funding for major refurbishments in the light of no support from elsewhere.

  3.8  It should be noted that W5's relationship with, and funding from, Government Departments is changing from that of a deficit funder to a service delivery agreement meeting specific objectives and agreed outputs. We still require the support of grants from Research Council, Charities and Foundation to meet our wider remit and to remain financially viable.

4.  ROLES AND BENEFITS

  Science Centres are not just providing benefits to the formal education but to the whole community. Our research shows we have extended the cultural provision and have avoid duplication with Museums as we only share 19% of our audience.

  4.1  W5 has agreed areas of benefit with DCAL and OTC and the outputs for each of these are review on an annual and accumulative basis and are being achieved. The benefits are targeted at all users and are summaried below we can provide further evidence of how these are achieved if required.

  4.1.a  Economic: provide corporate facilities to showcase local innovation and creativity; provide a major tourism facility and to assist the overall education of the workforce, and to significantly contribute to the success of Odyssey as part of a major urban regeneration project.

  4.1.b  Social: the inclusion of young children and good parenting; promote inclusion of women; support young adults as a part of a social inclusion policy; promote pathways for reconciliation through providing a neutral space and cross community programmes.

  4.1.c  Health: exhibits, events and programmes which help support key messages to the public for example smoking, diet and fitness.

  4.1.d  Education: foster positive values and attitudes; assist with raising standards of learning; link with other providers to focus on science education; support adults in developing their understanding of science as it relates to their children's learning at school; support educational groups at all levels with aspects relevant to science and technology programmes in schools and give opportunities for personal development and fulfilment.

  4.1.e  Recent data shows that W5 inclusive approach geographically is showing dividends and more than 70% of all schools in Northern Ireland (5-19) have visited W5 within the last six years and in areas close to Belfast this increases to 97%.

5.  EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE WITH FORMAL EDUCATION AUDIENCES

  5.1  W5 has recently evaluated a number of major programmes. This is just an extract further information can be provided if required. The largest evaluation took place on the Skills and Science Programme for 14-19 year olds.

  5.2  This section looks at some of the findings as evidence to the committee of the value of W5 in formal education.

  5.2.1  Evaluation by Teachers (Responses: 235)

  5.2.2  In general how did the event/workshop help your students with the following essential and key skills?

  5.2.3  How has the workshop/event helped with delivering the science curriculum?

  5.2.4  How long will your students benefit from this visit?

  5.2.5  Evaluation of Programmes Value

  5.2.6  Teacher Comments

  A sample of teachers' comments are included below, however the overriding factors mentioned by teachers which they identified made the programmes enjoyable and increased their impact were:

—  the teamwork and communication elements—young people having to work with other people and other schools on tasks and activities;

—  the application of their skills creatively—making, creating and experimenting when time for these types of activities is not available in school; and

—  exploring topical science and issues not in the curriculum.

  Teachers commented that the event or activity they participated in:

"... gets pupils thinking about science as part of the world around them and not as a subject just taken to pass exams"

Holy Cross College

"... allows opportunities not always available in the classroom situation, to explore up to date issues with other students"

Antrim Grammar

"... made their existing knowledge more relevant, was excellent in developing their skills in teamwork"

Cross and Passion College

"... vivid demonstration of application of art, science and mathematics in the physical world"

St Louis' Grammar

"brought genetic theory into context with modern world issues"

Lismore Comprehensive

"a fantastic day of relevance beyond science with emphasis on key skills, learning for life and work etc totally relevant to the revised curriculum at KS3"

St Joseph's College, L'Derry

"the event was invaluable in terms of improving pupils self esteem/confidence, it gave pupils and improved knowledge of development in their community"

St Louise's Comprehensive

  5.2.7  Science and Skills Evaluation by Pupils (Evaluations returned 433)

  Please remember these are 14-19 years olds from very mixed educational backgrounds.

  5.2.8  What did you think of today's event?

  5.2.9  Did the workshop/event help you with the following skills?

  5.2.10  Has the workshop/event helped you with your subject work?

  5.2.11  How long do you think you will benefit from this visit?

  5.2.12  Please advise whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:

  5.2.13  Pupils Comments

  A sample of pupils' comments are included below, however again the overriding factors mentioned by the young people which made the programmes enjoyable and increased their impact were:

—  the teamwork elements—having to work with other people and other schools on tasks and activities;

—  the application of their skills creatively—making, creating and experimenting; and

—  exploring topical science and issues not in the curriculum but of relevance to their lives.

"... it made me aware of my options and how to go about applying science to business"

Pupil, Regent House

"... it made us interact with others. It made us think outside the curriculum"

Pupil, Lismore Comprehensive

"it made me feel more confident about what I wanted to do"

Pupil, Lumen Christi College

"... it opened my eyes to possibilities"

Pupil, Aquinas GS

"we were made to think in different ways"

Pupil, Castlederg High School

6.  THE PUBLICS' EVALUATION

  W5 recently evaluated a major events programme with the public funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The aim of the events was to encourage creativity and explore the role of science and ICT in aspects of animation, illustration and comics as a science/art event. 138 families took part in the evaluation. This is a short extract from the report.

  6.1.1  Comments from Families

—  Very useful and important opportunity for co-operative engagement of skills and ideas amongst a group of enthusiastic nine year olds—manual skills get lost these days in passive entertainment;

—  great to see this kind of quality in a workshop for kids in Northern Ireland;

—  makes animation accessible to children, good for confidence building showing it is within their capability to animate;

—  all enjoyed—opened up creative imagination in a professional set up; and

—  inspirational for my family.

7.  CONCLUSION

  7.1  In the six years W5 has been open we have become a very successful visitor attraction providing a supportive learning environment for visitors aged two and above in a supportive family environment.

  7.2  W5 also supports and delivers science, technology, engineering, maths in a modern dynamic way that supports the school curriculum and encourages young peoples' interest in science, as shown in our evaluation reports.

  7.3  W5 works closely with a whole range of partners for example Government Departments, Agencies, Research Councils, Universities, local Councils and businesses to support shared aims and objectives in relation to Science and Technology and the development of creative skills.

  7.4  Like other Science Centres we raise a significant amount of our own income but will continue to require financial support to be a going concern and would like to see a strategy developed to support our long term future. Such a strategy could be developed around a service level agreement to deliver programmes such as Skills and Science (14-19) but starting at aged two and above.

  7.5  Like other Science Centres there is a need for on-going capital investment to ensure the Centre remains safe, modern and attractive to maximise W5's potential as a premier visitor attraction and educational facility for Northern Ireland.