PIPS activities
The programme has offered a series of intensive and extended activities for primary pupils. The aim has been to develop a project providing a programme of activities enabling good quality relationships to develop between university staff/students and pupils.Interactive and fun activities, whilst introducing Pharmacy as a viable career option has also been important. To assist the programme, current pharmacy undergraduate students have acted as ‘ambassadors’. The ambassadors helped pupils to reflect upon what was learned, and to consolidate their understanding of Pharmacy through the hands-on curriculum-related sessions.
The project has so far involved:
School visit
A visit to the school to explore the children’s perceptions of Higher Education, and a follow-up session one week later. The first session drew on material developed by Higher Futures 4U, and involved positive reflection, discussion of jobs and qualifications, and active games such as ‘thinking hats’.
In the second session the pupils were initially challenged to recall topics discussed at the first visit, then introduced to Pharmacy as a subject and career option. Hands-on exercises included looking at prescriptions and dispensing ‘dummy’ medicines.
Campus visit
A visit to the School of Pharmacy and University of Manchester campus to take part in a range of Pharmacy-related activities, including forming a molecule – chemistry in action, and Pharmacy formulation skills – making emulsions/creams.
Pupils were led by Professor Cureall (chemistry) and Dr Gopain (formulation) and were assisted by undergraduate ambassadors. After lunch in the refectory, there was a ‘mini’ graduation ceremony with gowns in the Whitworth Hall, with both Prof Cureall and Dr Gopain in attendance.
Follow up sessions
Two ninety-minute follow-up sessions were run at the School, led by student ambassadors, whereby aspects of the Key Stage 2 curriculum were covered but with a pharmacy slant.
This included an introduction to different types of medicine formulation, analytical pharmacy (identify the mystery powder), medicinal chemistry and ‘tablet’ making and packaging. In the final session pupils were asked to reflect upon what they had learnt during the programme.
Parental involvement
Success
The programme has proved to be a great success so far, with the vast majority of the pupils saying the sessions were fun, enjoyable and exciting. Pupil comments have included:“I think that now I have been here with you that when I'm older I want to be a pharmacist”
“I thought that the workshop was very inspiring and it made me think about going to university or to college”
“It was fun and it made me more eager to go to university”