Encouraged by the PTI to enthuse students through extra-curricular activities, Jeremy Rowe, Head of Biology at The Thomas Hardye School comprehensive in Dorset, has created an interesting way of engaging the students in Science and in the historic Jurassic Coast – a Fossils Club. With the students researching their own fossil specimens, the club has been hugely popular, and as one student said, has showed them that “Science isn’t as boring as I first thought!” The students developed their own forensic technique, using acid to uncover parts of fossil embedded in rock and have set up a website to showcase their discoveries.

“Working outside of the constraints of exam specifications has been very refreshing as a teacher and yet students have developed a wide range of relevant thinking skills and scientific understanding.”

– Dr Jeremy Rowe, Head of Biology, The Thomas Hardye School, Dorset 

The Thomas Hardye School Fossils Club students have presented their findings at National Science fairs and recently participated in a road show event with The Natural History Museum, which allowed the students to interact with expert researchers and scientists, including members of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Coast Team.

Jeremy’s enthusiasm is infectious and he espouses the values of passion, inspiration and ‘teaching beyond the test’ that the PTI believes is vital in effective teachers. He has collaborated with the PTI to run a number of Professional Development events for other teachers, including a day on Oceanography and another dedicated, of course, to Fossils.