SUBJECT LEADERS
Below we provide links to key documents and resources, that are published by others, that will be of use to science subject leaders. They are broken down by topic. Click on the links below to select a topic or scroll down to review them all.​
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PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT
PLAN
PLAN is a set of resources produced to enable teachers to have a clearer understanding of National Curriculum (England) expectations for meeting the standard in science. Annotated collections of children’s work provide examples of what working at the expected standard for primary science might look like for the knowledge and conceptual understanding statements of the programmes of study.
Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS)
The TAPS project has developed the TAPS pyramid tool to provide schools with a supportive structure to evaluate and develop their assessment processes. This website also contains a growing database of updated focused assessment plans and work samples.
END OF KEY STAGE 1 ASSESSMENT
Teacher Assessment Frameworks at the End of Key Stage 1
The Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 1 is published by the UK Government and contains the statements that teachers must assess and report against at the end of Key Stage 1.
Key Stage 1 National Curriculum Science Statements Linked to the Teacher Assessment Frameworks
The document, available from Our resources page, contains the National Curriculum science statements that feed into the Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 1.
Teacher Assessment Exemplification: Key Stage 1 Science
The Teacher assessment exemplification: KS1 science is published by the UK Government and provides examples of pupils work to support teachers in making judgments against the statutory Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 1.
END OF KEY STAGE 2 ASSESSMENT
Teacher Assessment Frameworks at the End of Key Stage 2
The Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 2 is published by the UK Government and contains the statements that teachers must assess and report against at the end of Key Stage 1.
Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Statements Linked to the Teacher Assessment Framework
This document, available from Our resources page, contains the National Curriculum statements that feed into the Teacher Assessment Framework at the end of Key Stage 2.
Teacher Assessment Exemplification: Key Stage 2 Science
The Teacher assessment exemplification: KS2 science is published by the UK Government and provides examples of pupils work to support teachers in making judgments against the statutory Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 2.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
CLEAPSS
All schools should consider becoming members of CLEAPSS (schools may already be members through their local authority). CLEAPSS helps you keep your children, your colleagues and yourself safe during practical work by providing model risk assessments and bespoke expert advice through their helpline, courses, publications and website.
Be Safe
Be Safe is health and safety guidance published by the Association for Science Education (ASE).
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Primary Science Teaching Trust
The Primary Science Teaching Trust is a charitable trust helping to improve the teaching and learning of primary science across the UK. Their website contains CPD resources developed through research funded by the Trust. Many of the resources are free.
STEM Learning
STEM Learning provides online professional development so you can learn wherever and whenever suits you.
Primary Science Quality Mark
The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a year-long CPD programme that helps schools achieve a quality mark whether science within the school has been low profile for a while or the school wants to improve provision further.
REPORTS
Finding The Optimum: The Science Subject Report
This report, published in February 2023, evaluates the common strengths and weaknesses of science in the schools inspected by His Majesty’s Inspectors as part of routine inspections. The report builds on the 2021 Ofsted science research review (see below).
Research Review Series: Science
This review, published in April 2021, explores the literature relating to the field of science education. Its purpose is to identify factors that can contribute to high-quality school science curriculums, assessment, pedagogy and systems.
Intention and Substance
Intention and substance: primary school science curriculum research, published in February 2019, is a short findings paper that provides deeper insight into the data collected from their research programme.
Maintaining Curiosity
Maintaining curiosity: a survey into science education in schools, published in November 2013, is a survey report that looks at science teaching in 91 primary and 89 secondary schools between 2010 and 2013.
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'State of the Nation'
The 'State of the nation' report of UK primary science education by Wellcome is a series of reports that looks at primary science education delivery across the UK through surveying science leaders, teachers and pupils.