December 2021
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This conference discussed priorities for delivering high-quality science education in England and what is needed to support the workforce to boost quality and attainment in science education.
Delegates also considered the research review of science education from Ofsted, which sets out the key factors that enable schools to deliver a high-quality education and identifies areas of concern in current provision.
With a further government investigation into the provision of science education in schools expected to report in 2022, this conference was an opportunity to discuss the review’s recommendations for best practice, including:
- coherency within the broader science curriculum
- work focused on content and progression rather than practical activities in isolation
- frequent assessments to monitor learning, retention, and progression
- sufficient curriculum time combined with specific CPD for teachers and technicians
This seminar also considered priorities for the workforce, including the introduction of the new suite of NPQs launched in September 2021, the findings of The Science Technician Workforce report from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the reforms to the Early Career Framework. It also looked at priorities for the recruitment of specialist teachers and strategies to encourage early career teachers to specialise in science.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote contributions from:
- Gill Collinson, Director of Education and Programmes, STEM Learning
- Professor Jonathan Osborne, Chair, Science Advisory Group, Programme for International Student Assessment, OECD; and Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University
- Hannah Russell, Chief Executive, The Association for Science Education
The discussion brought together stakeholders with key policy officials who attended from the Cabinet Office; the Department for Education; and the UK Space Agency.
