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King's College London College Archives

NUFFIELD FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEACHING PROJECT


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0100 KCLCA CNU, 1993/NUFF, 1994/CDD, 1995/CNU, 1996/CNU

Held at: King's College London College Archives

Title: NUFFIELD FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEACHING PROJECT

Date(s): 1949-1993

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 591 boxes (including one outsize), 2 files

Name of creator(s): Chelsea College | Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Nuffield Foundation was created in 1943 with a benefaction from William Richard Morris, Lord Nuffield, of shares to the value of ten million pounds in Morris Motors Ltd. The annual income of the Foundation (in 1965, two and a half million pounds) was divided between various fields of activity including medical, biological and other scientific research, and the advancement of education. In December 1961 the Trustees of the Foundation agreed to set aside £250,000 towards a comprehensive programme to further the teaching of science and mathematics in schools. Details of the programme were publicly announced in the House of Commons by Sir David Eccles, Minister of Education. In physics, chemistry and biology a full-time organiser was appointed to lead the work of the section, each backed by a small consultative committee, and based at the Foundation's headquarters at Chelsea College, London. In 1964 the Trustees recognised that the development of O-level courses would make necessary the development of materials for A-level students. Plans were drawn up for programmes of development leading to A-level courses in biology, physics, chemistry, and physical sciences, using material drawn from both chemistry and physics. A-level courses were introduced into trial schools in September 1966 in chemistry, physical science and biology, and A-level examinations provided between 1968 and 1970 in those subjects and in physics. Working parties, variously composed but generally including a university professor, a university lecturer, a school teacher and a member of the headquarters team, served the projects. They aimed to provide expert advice on content and methods of presentation and to ensure that the approach adopted was suited to the needs of future university students.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project (NFSTP), 1949-1993 but mainly dating from the 1960s and 1970s, including general administrative papers, 1961-1974; the Secondary Science Education Programme, 1965-1974; the Junior Science Project, 1960-1974; the Combined Science Project, 1964-1970; A-level in Physical Sciences, 1955-1974; Physics A- and O-level, 1963-1972; Chemistry O-level, 1962-1974; Chemistry A-level, 1962-1974; Biology O-level, 1962-c1973; Biology A-level, 1963-1972; records relating to publications, also including material on NFSTP administration, 1949-1992; published texts, 1960-1993; and film loops and accompanying teaching notes, 1966-1978, for various subjects and age groups.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

The records comprise the sub-fonds listed.

Conditions governing access:

Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive Services, King's College London.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Lists of the contents of 13 sub-fonds are available in the reading room at King's College London Archives, but several deposits (Ref: 1993/NUFF, 1994/CDD, 1995/CNU, 1996/CNU), totalling 49 boxes, are uncatalogued.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The records were transferred to King's College London Archives from the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project at Chelsea College.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

King's College London Archives also holds records of the Schools Council Integrated Science Project (based, like the NFSTP, at Chelsea College and inspired by the Nuffield Combined Science Scheme), 1968-1984 (Ref: C/SCISP, C/SC, C/SCPT, C/SCI5-13).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Source: list at King's College London Archives.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Feb 2001, revised Mar 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Biology education | Science education
Chemistry education | Science education
Film media | Information media
Physics education | Science education
Schools | Educational institutions
Curriculum
Educational administration
Educational publications
Educational sciences
Mathematics education

Personal names

Corporate names
Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project

Places