Pupils eye up the future after global science firm donates microscopes

Budding young scientists at a Derbyshire primary school are looking to the future after being given microscopes by a global science company with a local headquarters. 

 

Children at Milford Primary School on the outskirts of Belper are now enjoying getting up close and personal with the world after receiving 15 microscopes from science company Lubrizol, whose UK headquarters is a short distance away in Hazelwood.  
 
Through its charities and communities committee, Lubrizol made a donation which allowed three different types of microscopes to be bought for the school’s Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classes.  
 
Rachel Jones, Year 1 and 2 class teacher at Milford Primary School, said children were enjoying using the microscopes to make their own investigations into real life objects.  
 
“We are using the microscopes to support our more enquiry-based lessons and they are great for real-life practical study,” she said.  
 
“The pupils are loving them so far and are enjoying using them more independently in class.  
 
“We are very grateful to Lubrizol for supporting with this project to inspire our children to be the scientists of tomorrow.”  
 
It is not the first time the company has supported children at Milford Primary, an old mill school perched at the foot of a steep hill. Last year, the company provided locally felled wooden benches for a new outdoor area provided for the children through the Milford Community Green Space project.  

 

Local people had acquired two disused allotments for the children to allow them to let off steam outside, as they previously only had a tarmac playground to play in. Through former Lubrizol employee and keen gardener David Moreton, the benches gave further opportunities for the children to enjoy getting their hands dirty outside.  

 

Claire Hollingshurst, from Lubrizol’s charities and communities committee, said: “We enjoy supporting a wide range and projects with our donations, including Milford Primary School’s benches last year. However, there was something very pleasing, as a scientific company, to be helping this project because we hope it will help inspire future generations of scientists. Lots of science starts with learning how to look. That’s why microscopes are a great asset to any school and we are proud to have allowed these children to enjoy using them.” 

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