REGION 18 NEWSLETTER September 2015
Future Events Summary
This summary is to guide you as to what is available along with the contact.
Area/Region events
Primary Science Teachmeet 6th October 2015
Wellgate Community Farm, Romford 16.30 – 18.30
This is an informal gathering of those curious about science teaching and technology. Anyone can share great ideas they've trialled in their classrooms. Everyone is welcome - teachers from all types of schools, teaching all science subjects and age groups..
Venue: Wellgate Community Farm,Collier Row Road,Collier Row,RomfordRM5 2BH
Contact: Liz Lawrence
Science Teachmeet 6th October 2015
Imperial War Museum, Duxford 16.30 – 18.30
This is an informal gathering of those curious about science teaching and technology. Anyone can share great ideas they've trialled in their classrooms. Everyone is welcome - teachers from all types of schools, teaching all science subjects and age groups. The staff at Duxford will talk about the facilities they have to offer focusing on the STEM agenda followed by a brief tour including hopefully the 'Comet'
Venue: Imperial War Museum Duxfordnear Duxford in Cambridgeshire, EnglandCB22 4QR
Contact: Frances Evans
Workshop on A level CPAC and monitoring 5th November 2015
ASE Headquarters, College Lane, Hatfield 17.30 – 19.30
This is an opportunity to find out more about the CPAC from a representative of one of the exam boards and to find answers to your questions. It will also look at what the monitoring will involve.
Cost: Free to members, £35 to non members, £10 to trainee non members
Venue: ASE Headquarters, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AA
Contact: Frances Evans
ASE Question Time : 11th November 2015
STEM Education Centre, IoE, London 17.00 – 19.00
How important is enquiry-based learning in school science?
This is the third of our most popular events – ASE Question Time. Run in a similar way to the infamous TV programme, Professor Michael Reiss will chair a panel of experts, who will be quizzed about enquiry-based learning.. Come along and hear how this approach can support both ‘working scientifically’ and science conceptual development. The panel consists of Brian Cartwright (Science Lead HMI), Chris Harrison (SAILS Project), Mary Oliver (MASCIL project) and primary expert (yet to be announced).
Venue: STEM Education Centre London, 20 Bedford Way London, WC1H 0AL
Contact: Frances Evans
Teachers Conference 12th March 2016
STEM Education Centre, IoE, London
We are holding a one day CPD event for teachers full of great sessions for Primary, Secondary and post 16.
Venue: STEM Education Centre London
Contact: Sheila Curtis
Technicians Conference 6th May 2016
STEM Education Centre, IoE, London
We are holding a one day CPD event for technicians full of great sessions
Venue: STEM Education Centre London
Contact: Sheila Curtis
Technicians Conference 17th June 2016
University of Hertfordshire
We are holding a one day CPD event for technicians full of great sessions
Venue: University of Hertfordshire
Contact: ASE website: www.ase.org.uk/conferences
National
Annual Conference 6-9 January 2016
Birmingham University
The ASE Annual Conference 2016 is one of the largest science education continuing professional development events in the world. It is open to all, ASE members and Non members.
· Choose from over 200 talks, workshops and seminarsduring its four day run.
· Trainee teacher members can attend for oneFREE day.
· Over2000 science educators from all phases of science education
· FreeExhibition Entry with lots of science textbooks and resources, materials and apparatus on offer.
Contact: ASE website: www.ase.org.uk/conferences
Teachmeets
The Region would like to run more teachmeets – if your school is interested in hosting one please contact Frances Evans
REGION 18 WORKING WITH OTHERS
Inquiry Learning in Science: the SAILS Project Supporting ‘working scientifically’ in science classrooms
Date: Friday 9th October 2015
Time:9:30 amto3:30 pm
Location :Great Hall, King’s College London, WC2R 2LS
Cost :Free
Inquiry Learning in Science: the SAILS Project
Supporting ‘working scientifically’ in science classrooms
An opportunity to hear why inquiry science makes a difference to the way students learn about science and understand it. For teachers, senior managers, governors, teacher trainers and professional development providers.
For more details and to reserve a place, please go to:http://tinyurl.com/SAILSProject
Primary Updates
Here are the links to the KS1 and 2 teacher assessment frameworks
KS1 -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-frameworks-for-teacher-assessment-at-the-end-of-key-stage-1
KS2 -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-frameworks-for-teacher-assessment-at-the-end-of-key-stage-2
This is the link to the report from the Commission on Assessment Without Levels
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commission-on-assessment-without-levels-final-report.
The government’s response can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commission-on-assessment-without-levels-government-response
Enhance your STEM curriculum
STEM experience days for Y5 and 6 pupils
http://www.barkingdagenhamcollege.ac.uk/en/facilities/gazelle-stem-centre.cfm
Sign up for the Astro Science challenge,a space science adventure for schools and children aged 7-11
www.astrosciencechallenge.com
Congratulationsto all the schools in this region which receivedPrimary Science Quality Markaward notifications last week. They will be joining the round 8, who completed their awards in March, for a fabulous celebration and presentation atThe Royal Institution, Londonin November. Good luck to all the hubs of schools across the region working towards round 10 awards or just starting out in round 11. To register your interest for future rounds visitwww.psqm.org.uk
It’s not too late to enter the CLEAPSS Primary Science and D&T competition -design and test a new food product, a “healthy dunking biscuit”.
Closing date 20 October
http://www.cleapss.org.uk/primary/primary-resources
Relaunch of TalkBiology September 2015
The Royal Society of Biology has relaunchedTalkBiologyas an online forum for all those with an interest in the life sciences, including students, teachers, bioscientists in industry and academia, and amateur biologists. Please take a look at the newly updated site which now has new forums including a bioscience community forum for all site users. We hope you find TalkBiology to be useful and you enjoy using the updated forums. Don’t forget to check in regularly on theTalkBiology siteto help us make it useful, lively and relevant to our bioscience community. Please help us by forwarding this message to friends and colleagues. To access the site users need to register their name and email address to gain a password.
Gopher Science Labs, grants now available
Gopher Science Labssupports students’ transition from primary to secondary school with peer to peer learning across age groups. Secondary students learn how to deliver the range of Gopher Science Labs hands-on science activities to primary pupils. During this process the secondary students develop their skills in communication, innovation and increase their self-confidence. Later the primary pupils who attended a Gopher Science Labs day are encouraged to deliver their own training to pupils in their class or from younger year groups. This gives all participating students ownership of their learning and helps them gain confidence.Grants are now availableto enable UK schools to run a Gopher Science Lab day followed by sharing their experience via a teacher led twilight training session for other teachers. The deadline to apply for a grant is 1st November 2015.
School Biology Teacher of the Year Award
Do you know an amazing teacher of biology who deserves recognition? Why not nominate them for an award to recognise their talent and skill? TheSchool Biology Teacher of the Year Awardis open to all teachers who are working with students aged 11-18 years old, teaching pre-university level biology programmes of study, currently employed in a UK based school or college. The 2015/16 award is now open for nominations. This year's winner will receive £500 for themselves and £500 of Oxford University Press resources for their school in addition to prizes from UK 3B Scientific Ltd and the National Science Learning Centre. The deadline for nominations is 18thDecember 2015.
Dr Amanda Hardy AMRSB MRSC
Schools and Colleges Officer
020 7685 2565
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