Silver CREST Award Impact Research Study

CREST Awards The British Science Association runs a scheme to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) through projects. Silver CREST Awards are aimed at students aged 14-16yrs. On average, students taking part in CREST Awards achieve at least half a grade higher on their previous best Science grades.

CREST Awards Walton-le-Dale High School is one of 200 schools in the UK that have been selected to take part in a research study to evaluate the impact of the Silver CREST Award on attainment. Only Year 9 students can take part We need a group of 6 to 35 students for the study There is a 50:50 chance that we will be in the ‘intervention’ condition

Timeline By the end of this year – see Miss Halsall to volunteer September 2017 – Finalised group selection October 2017 – short survey about Science & school November 2017 – intervention or control? November 2017 to May 2018 – Either complete 30+ hours of STEM project work & earn a Silver CREST Award from or no CREST Award project work & get a £10 high street voucher. May / June 2018 – assessment & questionnaire

What to do now… Collect a letter to take home. If you or your parents/carers do not wish for your data to be used at all in the study, you must return the completed opt-out slip to Miss Halsall within 2 weeks (by Friday 14th July). If you actively want to take part in CREST Award work, see Miss Halsall to volunteer by the end of this year.