Terri & the Time Machine
In partnership with our long-term supporters Z-arts, and thanks to an arts-based learning grant from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, our ambitious in-school learning adventure Terri and the Time Machine has so far been delivered to nearly 2,000 children at primary schools across the North West.
With the help of Year 3, Investigator Terri creates a working time machine – but finds herself trapped when the machine starts rocketing around in time and space. In an ongoing narrative of peril and adventure, can Year 3 work together to get her back?
Evaluation for this project has repeatedly shown it improves children’s engagement with science learning, increasing their willingness to speak up and ask questions, and improving retention – as well as improving teachers’ confidence and skills.
In 2026, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, we delivered a follow-up project to nearly 200 children who had been in the first group of children taking part in TTM, just as they were about to leave primary school for good. Evaluation showed that three years after taking part, they still had more positive attitudes to STEM.
This follow-up project for Year 6 students, Terri’s Transition Challenge, significantly increased children’s sense of belonging in STEM. Find out more by reading the full evaluation report.
In 2026, a cluster of primary schools in Morecambe Bay will begin hosting a new project, designed to build on the success of Terri and the Time Machine.
Terri’s Expanded Universe will expand the TTM effect to children and teachers across Key Stage 2, thanks to new funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Watch this space to find out more….
Core Artistic Team on all these projects:
Toni-Dee Paul
Sarah Punshon
Daniel Bye
Samuel Wilde
Sound Design: Nik Paget-Tomlinson
Zoom Technician: Humira Imtiaz
Production Management and Construction: Rob Athorn
Production Management and Construction: Rob Athorn
Additional props-making: Louise Manifold & Kamini Patel
Curriculum Advisor on TTM: Dr Lynne Bianchi, Director of the Science and Engineering Education Research & Innovation Hub at Manchester University (SEERIH).
The project has already reached over 1,000 children in thirteen inner city Manchester schools.
Evaluation shows that “TTM” children are significantly more likely to see themselves as “someone who likes science”, more likely to find science lessons interesting, and more likely to talk to their families about what they’ve done in science at school. Read more about our impact here.
““The children ADORE Terri and they love science because of TTM! Thank you!”
“It’s definitely changed my way of thinking as well, we can be way more creative in the way that we think about our lessons, letting our children discover things.”
Teacher feedback
The programme is inspired by previous successful projects My Planet and Curious Investigators.
Project Specific Policies
