Last December, we kicked off the National Space Academy’s Space to Learn project at Techniquest, welcoming learners from the home education community for a hands-on space science workshop.
Part of the National Space Academy’s ‘Space to Learn’ project, the workshop offered a unique opportunity for home-educated students to explore the science behind space through interactive activities and challenges.
The workshop was open to young people working at Key Stage 3 level and, importantly, the content was pitched at this level regardless of age, ensuring accessibility for all home-educated learners.
Each booking included both students and parents, encouraging shared learning and supporting families to continue exploring space science together at home.
Participants were greeted by Techniquest’s Education Officer, Jenny and National Space Academy deliver, Dorian, who introduced the day’s theme and highlighted how space science connects to everyday life.
The families had the freedom to select from multiple activity stations, each offering a different scientific concept to explore. Students enjoyed plenty of time to experiment, ask questions, and delve deeper into the topics that sparked their interest.
The highlight of the session saw students and their guardians work together to design and build their own rockets. Creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving took centre stage as each group tested ideas and refined their designs in pursuit of a successful launch.
Andre, a parent attendee on the day said: “Thank you so much for the space event yesterday. My son and I enjoyed it very much.
“I was very impressed with Dorian’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject — and science in general. It was lovely to meet him.
“I wish you both the best and hope this project goes on to be a great success.”
Every attending family went home with tailored resources designed to extend the learning experience. These materials support guardians in continuing space-themed science education at home — reinforcing concepts from the session and encouraging further discovery.
With a warm, engaged group of attendees and a packed schedule of science exploration, the December workshop was a fantastic example of how hands-on learning can ignite curiosity and confidence.
Techniquest is proud to support home educators across the UK alongside the National Space Academy and looks forward to welcoming even more families to future events.