Trust Projects

Joined Up Science - Cornwall Education Development Service (Cluster Project)

Joined Up Science

This cluster project aims to increase the quantity and quality of professional development available to primary and secondary teachers of science in the Local Authority through "training the trainers" The trainers are briefed on a CPD unit which they will then deliver in their own schools. Delivery will be jointly undertaken by a secondary and a primary teacher.

Aims

• To increase the quantity and quality of professional development available to primary and secondary teachers of science in the LA
• To increase the involvement of specialist Science Colleges in being providers of CPD to local schools, both primary and secondary
• To increase the accessibility of Science Learning Centre training to teachers throughout the region

 

Evaluation

An evaluation following the second round was conducted by Bill Hockley, Science Consultant based in Cornwall. Bill was not directly involved in the planning or running of the project but was well aware of the situation in Cornwall and the challenge facing primary and secondary education. He interviewed Penny Porter at Liskeard School & Community College, who was involved with both rounds. The following points emerged.

• The sessions were very well received. There was a feeling that this should be developed on a regular basis.

• The debate between Primary and Secondary teachers was the most successful element of the project. Penny ensured that there was always primary and secondary representation at the meetings.

• The first year forces theme was limiting. The primary teachers found it difficult to develop progression.

• The SLC coordinated the project but communications were initially weak. In particular there were issues with numbers and delivery of equipment, though this was much improved when locally coordinated

• The joint primary/secondary leadership of these sessions was very effective. It was good to have both primary & secondary representation. It gave primary teachers confidence to try new ideas.
 

Summary

Overall a number of key messages have emerged from this project.
• Using the Science Colleges as venues and facilitators has been effective and strengthened both the role of the colleges and the offer to other schools. It has been shown to be quite practical for a college to have a role as a focal point for the sharing of good practice amongst schools on a wider base than their immediate network of partner primary schools.
• Using primary and secondary teachers has also been or real value.
• Investing in training has shown the potential for the development of a community of leading practitioners.
• The optimum frequency seems to be lower than was originally planned. Sustaining a termly cycle, a regular occurrence in the secondary phase, wasn’t possible.
• Using the Science Learning Centre was a positive feature as it enabled priorities identified by both primary and secondary practitioners to be turned into fully developed sets of materials without the expense or negative impact of taking teachers out of classrooms to do so.
 

Contact

Ed Walsh email -  Edmund.Walsh@nationalstrategies.co.uk

Update

Most significantly, Joined-Up Science has developed a model of practice to show how the Specialist Science Colleges can be used to act as a focal point for the sharing of good practice amongst schools on a wider base than their immediate network of partner primary schools. Furthermore the project has shown that investment in training has the potential for the development of a community of leading practitioners.