The 28th Ralph Anderson Lecture

The 28th Ralph Anderson Lecture of the The Worshipful Company of Horners was held at the Royal Society of Medicine, where 153 guests were treated to an engaging and thought-provoking presentation by Alicia Chrysostomou, titled “Plastics – Misunderstandings, Myths and Misdirection.”

Dr Crysostomou challenged common perceptions of plastics — perceptions often shaped more by media narratives than by scientific understanding. She shed light on issues such as recyclability, bioplastics, and so-called “green” materials that claim to be environmentally friendly, illustrating how “greenwashing” can mislead even the most well-intentioned consumers.

Highlighting that much of what we hear about plastics is rooted in myth rather than fact, Dr Crysostomou encouraged the audience to recognise and embrace the positive aspects of this remarkable material. By allowing science, rather than media spin, to guide our choices, she suggested, we can make better-informed and more sustainable decisions for the future.

Her presentation took attendees on an enlightening journey through the world of plastic packaging and recycling symbols, prompting lively debate and discussion over supper following the lecture.

Celebrating the Science Gateways Programme

Before the 28th Ralph Anderson Lecture, the The Worshipful Company of Horners took the opportunity to recognise and celebrate one of the longest-running STEM initiatives supported by the Horners’ Charity – the Science Gateways programme (previously known as Science Opens Doors).

This innovative programme was developed in response to research showing that while children at Key Stage 2 find science fun and engaging, by Key Stage 3 (ages 12–14) many have turned away from science as a potential career. One major reason identified for this shift is the lack of science capital within families.
The aim of the project has been to build science capital by helping children, parents, and teachers see that careers in science can be personally rewarding, enjoyable, and beneficial to society. In doing so, the programme seeks to inspire young people to consider science-based careers and to help address future skills gaps.

Over nearly 13 years, the programme has delivered during more than 80 school visits, reaching over 3,500 children and their parents or carers.

At the event, the Horners celebrated the outstanding contributions of Steve and Jen Smyth, who have led the programme since its inception. Through their dedication and enthusiasm, they have inspired thousands of children and parents with engaging, hands-on science experiences. As Steve and Jen now retire, the Master,Rebecca Joyce, presented them with a drinking horn as a token of appreciation on behalf of the The Worshipful Company of Horners for their remarkable work and commitment over the years.

Looking to the future, the programme will continue under the delivery of Sphere Science, with continued support from the Worshipful Company of Horners’ Charity Fund—one of many STEM initiatives the The Worshipful Company of Hornersare proud to champion.

The SALTERS’ HORNERS’ ADVANCED PHYSICS  (SHAP) was launched in 1998 in partnership with the Salters Company.

Salters’-Horners’-A-Level-Physics [SHAP] is one of the longest of the Horners’ Company’s education initiatives. The original programme partnered with the Worshipful Company of Salters financed the creation of a new A-level Physics syllabus employing context-teaching, that links applications to the basic physics. It led to a long association with York University, now through the University of York Science Education Group [UYSEG], and through successive Professors David Waddington, Sir John Holman and Judith Bennett. The Horners supported Freeman Dr Liz Swinbank in “servicing” SHAP for many years and then rewriting the syllabus over a decade ago. Since then, the Company has sponsored a spin-off, Best Evidence Science Teaching [BEST], a tool advising science teachers on modern methods, and the Horners have introduced context-led teaching into junior schools.

However, our interest is maintained in the annual awards for achievement by those employing the SHAP syllabus. The impressive ceremony is held at the Salters Hall where each winner receives a financial prize from the Salters’ Institute and an ornamental drinking horn from the Horners’ Company.

In 2025, 3 winners each achieved the remarkable maximum score of 600 marks. The Master presented the horns, and were joined at the ceremony on December 2nd, by the Clerk and Assistant Clive Thompson. Each winner will be offered Associate Membership of the Company.

The 2025 Winners are shown below.

Arjun Randhawa

Syed Ilham Uddin

Jessica Searancke

NUMBER CHAMPIONS

The Horners  have supported  Number Champions since 2018 to help children in state primary schools who had fallen behind in maths, through providing imaginative one-to-one support from trained volunteers.

Numeracy, like literacy, is a vital skill for life, and children who do not ‘get maths’ at the start of their schooling risk never catching up. Personal support over a year from a sympathetic adult can help a child engage in the subject and gain confidence in their own ability, and – as they have seen in comments from teachers – can lead to notably improved involvement in class.

In the past school year they have partnered with 29 schools across 12 London boroughs, and have had about 100 volunteers supporting over 250 children. Teachers’ evaluations show a recognisable improvement in children’s confidence and skills in maths over the year.

About 27% of London primary school children receive ‘Pupil Premium’ funding in recognition that they are from disadvantaged backgrounds. For children (selected by teachers as being most in need of support) the figure is over 50%, illustrating that lack of numeracy is disproportionally a barrier for disadvantaged children.

Numbers Champions continue to grow organically, aiming to build a presence first across London and then wider afield, so that they can help progressively more children to succeed.

They are grateful to the Horners Charity for supporting Number Champions in its very early days and for our continued support and encouragement. They raise a quarter of their funds from schools and the rest from donors such as us. And if any individual Horner is interested in volunteering with them, they would be delighted to hear from him/her – as well as being important for the child, volunteering is fun!

They can be contacted at:

www.numberchampions.org.uk

Polymer Study Tours

Polymer Study Tours are run by the Horners’ as residential courses for Teachers to learn about the Polymer Industry for the benefit of both themselves and their pupils. Delegates receive a Certificate of Professional Development.

The Tours provide teachers with first-hand experience of the polymer industry in action.  They are a blend of lectures, practical sessions using readily available resources to demonstrate key polymer-related concepts, industry tours, and discussion and network opportunities.

The Tours have been designed to link closely to the polymer topics within the 11 to 18 Design and Technology curriculum and have proven very popular.

The demand from teachers has been such that a total of five Tours will have taken place by the end of 2025 – an increase over previous years.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank the host organisations:

• Scotland – WHS Plastics.13 and 14 June.
• Lancashire – Vitrex.29 and 30 June.
• North East – Biffa Polymers.4 and 5 July.

Two further Tours are scheduled for later in the year:

• East Yorkshire – Bericap.7 and 8 November.
• Midlands – Amcor (formerly Berry Global).28 and 29 November

I was fortunate to join the East Yorkshire tour in November 2024, and I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and engagement shown by all those attending.  Diane Aston and her team, who deliver the programme, are truly engaging and their knowledge is second to none.  The teachers I met, without exception, benefited hugely from the programme in terms of exposure to the plastics industry; identifying opportunities to link curricular activities to industry; and, importantly, overcoming negativity around plastics and identifying with the positive aspects which are so often overlooked.

Sponsorship and Promotion of the Tours

 There is certainly a demand from teachers – and the Polymer Study Tours steering committee are committed to continue delivering quality Tours.  Work is starting on the arrangements for the 2026 Tours and we are currently looking to deliver four Tours based on current levels of sponsorship.  We are therefore keen to encourage organisations to support the Tours by committing to sponsorship to enable continuity.

Click here to read the booklet giving further information.

Gillian Doughty

Freeman

This is a project aimed at persuading more children to embark upon a science based career.

The basis of the Project was research which found that junior school children like doing science at school, but by the early years in secondary school, about three quarters have decided that they do not want to be a scientist. The Science Open Doors Team concluded that the main reason for this change was influence from parents and schools at age 10 to peer groups and the media at age 14. Accordingly Science Open Doors focuses on 9-10 year olds and their parents.

The Project team also discerned that this is because they and their parents and teachers are unaware of what scientists do. This lack of knowledge is serious because the UK alone needs 820,000 more science qualified people in the next decade. Also of the 5.8 million people employed with science and mathematics qualifications, only 20% of them are pure scientists, the remainder are employed in engineering, health, education, manufacture, banking and many more industries. Thus Science Opens Doors aims to promote careers from science while promoting the study of science and mathematics.

The Project aims to access the prime influencers of junior school children, their parents and teachers, and brings them together with the children in the classroom with a science agenda.

Over 60 visits have been made to Junior Schools, mainly in the London area, to average audiences of 35 students and 25 parents/carers covering very diverse audiences. The learn how science is important in all of our lives and, how vital it is in solving the world’s problems. They then carry out some science-based activities.  Questionnaires completed separately by children and adults show universal approval for both the events and the messages about careers from science. Finally, they take away leaflets packed with information about science and careers.

Here is a typical brochure as handed out at school visits:

Fantastic Plastic – Destroyer or Saviour of our planet?

Prof Averil Macdonald has given a series of lectures on Plastics which have enthused students over the years.

Two of her other lectures can be seen below and give some idea of the passion involved in a fast developing industry where the UK is at the forefront of technology.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY – HORNERS’ SUPPORT

Education in Chemistry is the Royal Society of Chemistry’s magazine for secondary school chemistry and science teachers. It provides free articles and teaching resources to teachers across the UK and Ireland, and with support from the Horners’ they have produced an article examining the use of plastics for home insulation, with classroom activities for the 14–18 age range.

The article provides chemistry teachers with context for their lessons on addition and condensation polymerisation, as well as recycling, life cycle assessment and sustainability. Teachers can use the classroom activities with their 14–16 year-old learners to evaluate the recycling of plastics and with 16–18 students to practise applying their knowledge of polymerisation to an unfamiliar context. The article and activities are relevant to all curriculums for the 14–18 age groups across the UK and Ireland, providing teachers with ready-to-go resources for their teaching.