Bexley KS3 science coordinators network

1. Bexley KS3 science coordinators network 6th July 2009

2. Agenda • Science BEST website • Network/CPD as KS3 science coordinator • New Secondary Curriculum and Framework/Schemes for Learning • How science works approaches/Progressing to level 6 and beyond • Cross curricular projects • STEM • Formative assessment and support so all pupils make good progress • Other

3. Bexley Science Teachers Website • http://www.fronter.com/bexley • Username: science.303 • Password: science.303 Click on: THE BEXLEY SCIENCE TEACHERS (BEST) Science Room Browse

4. KS3 science coordinator Discussion about the role .. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Peter Drucker. Is the head teacher the only leader in the school? Distributed leadership is the most empowering and effective model in learning institutions.

5. Preferred network CPD as KS3 science coordinator • Needs/wants, could/should • Frequency? • Autumn 09 focus • Spring 10 focus • Summer 10 focus • Autumn 10 focus • Co-ownership/administration

6. New Secondary Curriculum and Framework/Schemes for Learning • Success and enjoyment of learning science for all • Relevance, meaningfulness, variety, enriched, active, ethical science • Clear learning and assessment objectives • Strong encouragement to enrich and develop the pupils’ learning experiences as much as possible – get away from double page spread ‘science’ teaching.

7. Cross curricular projects • SUSTAINABILITY – the raison d’etre for science? • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths – enrichment • DCSF research – home and family is the most meaningful context to set school learning in • Independence as an outcome needs a project-based curriculum

8. “How science works” - and school science • What is the science that we teach? What is science for? • What is science teaching for? • Recruit scientists to beat of foreign competition in a global economy? • Educate the whole populace? • Produce independent thinking people who are able to plan, judge, know - within reality! Rational thinkers and project sponsors and doers.

9. Suggestions re HSW necessary approaches • ?

10. ‘Progressing Beyond Level 6+ and B+ in science’ project • Proven 4 Steps method • 6 strands:- • Research skills • Using models and analogies • Misconceptions • Scientific writing • Effective group talk • HSW aspects • LOADS of resources: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/182091

11. Formative assessment and support so all pupils make good progress Formative assessment has the purpose of helping learning – it is not about reporting a grade or score or level; and Summative assessment has the purpose of indicating pupils’ achievement at a certain time. Thos may be for reporting to parents, other teachers for internal records of progress, certification, etc.

12. Formative assessment and support so all pupils make good progress (cont.) • It is important to realise that these are not different kinds of assessment; whether an assessment is formative or summative depends on what happens as a result. Marking a piece of student work, even a test, can be formative if both the pupil and teacher use it to see how further progress can be made with respect to healthy expectations from both parties. However, if it is just marked, recorded and fed back as a grade or score, then its only value is to indicate what is or is not known at that stage, and so it is summative. [Wynne Harlen ‘Perceptions and purpose of assessment in education.’ ‘Research Focus’ April 2006]

13. Targets 8 7 6 5 4 3 • 2 levels progress per key stage = 2 sublevels per year • Year target to be ‘hit’ consistently throughout year (not just once at year end). 5a 5c 4b 3a KS2 level X Yr7 Yr8 Yr9

14. A school science learning journey characterised by daily victories Every pupil enjoying learning and making good progress