The Duchess of Cambridge joined a science lesson this week, November 24, looking at a research project run by the Oxford University, which looks to embed the key principles of early childhood development and neuroscience in students.
The year 8 students from Nower Hill High School in Harrow were going over topics learnt during the SEEN programme, Secondary Education around Early Neurodevelopment, co-lead by Dr Louise Dalton and Dr Elizabeth Rapa.
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Dr Rapa, said: “This ground-breaking project could improve the lives of children for generations. In the same way that we teach children about the risks of smoking or poor diet, children also need to know about why experiences in our early years are so important for later health.”
The Duchess was able to see first-hand how innovative science lessons are helping secondary school pupils understand how baby development and care have a long-term impact on adulthood and future wellbeing.
Dr Dalton was thrilled that the Duchess was able to see the lessons in action and that she shares their passion for spreading the word on this subject.
She said: “It is fantastic that she shares out passion for everybody in our communities to understand the importance of the early years.”
At the end of the session, the Duchess told the students: “So really well done and I hope you found it interesting. It’s a real passion of mine, learning about babies’ brains and how our adult brains develop and how our early childhood influences the adult brain.
“Keep thinking about it, keep chatting about it with your friends. Well done, super impressed and thank you for having me.”
During the past decade, the Duchess has worked to highlight the importance of the formative years of a child’s life, and has established her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
The new organisation has three key areas of focus – research, developing new solutions with public and private voluntary sectors, and campaigns to raise awareness.
The SEEN project is run by Oxford University and aims to teach the key principles of early childhood development and neuroscience.
The SEEN research project has been commissioned and funded by Kindred2, the early years charitable foundation, and developed by the University of Oxford which tested the new science curriculum with Key Stage 3 pupils.
More than 3,700 11 to 14-year-olds took part in three lessons which covered the neuroscience of how brains are built and how experiences – including the role of caregivers – impact brain development.
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Nower Hill headteacher, Louise Voden said afterwards, the project had a “real resonance” with the children.
She added: “We are so delighted that the duchess chose to come to a large, mixed ability comprehensive in London. We have a wide range of pupils, from those going to Oxford out Cambridge to those have more challenging education needs. But all of them have really benefitted from this experience.”
Nower Hill High School has been one of 21 schools taking part in the programme.
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