A BARNARD Castle school is one of only five in County Durham to receive a prestigious science award.
Montalbo Primary School earned a gilt Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) for the quality of education that pupils enjoy.
Science teacher Dr Felicity Greenwell said the award is renewed every three years, and the school had been promoted from its initial basic award in 2019 to gilt level this year.
She added: “From the PSQM cohort 438 schools achieved accreditation and out of this 103 achieved PSQM gilt. There were only five schools which achieved PSQM gilt in the Durham area.
“It is all about providing children with added benefits to what is in the national curriculum and to inspire them to be future scientists.
“We are very proud of the award.”
The teacher said among the added activities at the school were visits by top people in their field as well as tours to places like GSK to see science being implemented.
PSQM national director associate professor Jane Turner said: “There was never a more important time for primary children to have high-quality science education. The coronavirus pandemic and climate change crisis have made everyone aware of the importance of science in our world.
“Primary schools have an important role to ensure that children understand how science works and keeps us and our planet safe.
“Schools that have achieved a PSQM have demonstrated a significant commitment to science teaching and learning. The profile and quality of science in each school is very high.”
