Pharmacy in Primary Schools 2017

26 Apr 2017

Manchester Pharmacy School recently hosted 31 year 5 pupils from Woodheys Primary School for the final instalment of this years’ Pharmacy in Primary Schools (PIPS) programme.

Previously, staff and students from Pharmacy had visited Woodheys Primary to deliver workshops on Higher Education and Pharmacy careers: now it was their turn to visit the University. The mornings’ activities started off with an interactive, fun and informative 3D mini-lecture by Professor Cureall (aka Sally Freeman), looking at the chemistry of some good and bad drugs that 10/11 year olds may have heard of.

The next activity took place in the IPE suite where the pupils tried their hand at molecular modelling. Despite a few oxygen and carbon ‘molecules’ bouncing the length of the room, most of the pupils managed to successfully construct the drugs from the schematic illustrations given to them. From there, students moved into the dispensing lab where Karen Purcell had kindly prepared materials to make calamine cream, thereby concluding the brief trip through the drug development process (discovery, modelling &manufacture).  The pupils thoroughly enjoyed this ‘messy’ activity and most were even keen to complete the drug development process by either testing their product on their lab neighbour or even take it home to trial on a younger sibling.

As a reward for all of their efforts, students were treated to lunch in Vasio cafe in Simon Building, to conclude the visit the pupils were escorted to the Whitworth Hall, they donned Harry Potter-style gowns and mortar boards and went through a mini graduation ceremony, where they were presented with a certificate of achievement.

Throughout the PIPS programme, student ambassadors have helped pupils reflect on the material being taught and consolidate their understanding of pharmacy through the hands-on curriculum related activities. The linking of current pharmacy students with local young learners meant that they could act as role models, and could share their experiences of what Higher Education is and what it can offer. No matter how interesting the contents, much of the success of programmes such as PIPS is down to the enthusiastic and willing involvement and input from the student ambassadors.

Written by Dr David Allison