Free Glasgow Science Centre education sessions funded for another year A city's primary schools are to get another year of free access to an education programme at the city's Science Centre. Glasgow City Council agreed in 2010 to fund what was initially a year-long programme allowing its 35,000 primary pupils free educational sessions run by the centre. Due to its success and popularity, it was continued for a further year and on Wednesday was extended again. Stephen Curran, the council's executive member for education and young people, joined pupils from Pirie Park Primary School in Govan as the announcement was made. "Since we introduced our free schools programme the numbers attending have sky-rocketed," he said. It is a fantastic opportunity for Glasgow's primary schools to make use of the educational facilities on offer in our city. Sometimes you need to go beyond the classroom walls to give pupils a better understanding of a particular subject, and this is a great way to engage with pupils and help them develop their skills. Knowing how successful it is and the benefits it brings young learners and their teachers is the best reason to continue its funding. Almost 50,000 pupils and teachers have visited the Science Centre since 2010 under the free access programme. The sessions, which include lessons in the Planetarium, are linked to experiences and outcomes detailed in the Curriculum for Excellence. Stephen Breslin, chief executive of Glasgow Science Centre, said: "Thousands of our city's children and teachers have been able to see science brought to life in a fun and interactive way thanks to the support from Glasgow City Council. An interest in science at an early age can last a lifetime. We have an amazing history of world-class scientists, and we're excited to be working with the Council to help us to inspire the scientists of the future. Gail Kelly, a primary seven teacher at Pirie Park, said: "I think some of the science we teach in schools is hard for the children to get their heads round. When they come here they get the opportunity to look at things in detail and look at models and explore things. They have brilliant fun doing it and have a better understanding of where the science actually comes from.