Parents might also be able to offer direct support. Questions of expertise also arise with regard to the quality or availability of technician support. All science teachers will be aware of the vital role played by technicians within the curriculum. The involvement of an enthusiastic technician can also be a central component in forming successful partnerships. The accounts in this compendium show the wide spectrum of 'Science for Real' initiatives which are underway and which could well be greatly expanded, inside the curriculum and outside it, inside and outside school, using facilities in universities, industry and research institutes, sometimes using expeditions as a medium, both local or international, and at virtually every level of education.
Many gaps remain.
The Clifton Scientific Trust is supporting the establishment of a series of partnerships between professional scientists and a diverse range of maintained and independent primary and secondary schools in Bristol and surrounding areas. The aim is to explore how to structure partnerships most effectively and to develop some exemplars. An important aspect of this approach is the mass 'blind date' between potential partners. It is easy to underestimate the challenge facing isolated interested individuals wishing to make a first step beyond their home institutions. The large scale approach adopted in Norfolk overcomes this.