GM Open Primary Science Subject Leader Regional Network: 2024-2025 Meetings

The GM Open Network is for teachers in Greater Manchester who are not eligible for another regional network. If you're based in Salford or Wigan this is the Network for you. You may also attend if your school is not a member of your local Network in Bolton, Bury, Manchester or Rochdale, but if you cannot attend these dates, please email [email protected]

We're delighted that SEERIH's termly Primary Science Subject Leader Regional Networks are continuing for 2024-25. To facilitate forward planning in schools, all three meetings are open to book now. Please book tickets for the sessions you are able to attend. We encourage teachers attend all sessions wherever possible, in order to get the most out of the experience.

The network welcomes new and established primary science subject leaders of all experience levels to share and improve practice, providing a unique opportunity to speak with other subject leaders in your region about the issues that are affecting each of you. Expert-led professional development inputs will support you with up-to-date issues, skills and resources.

Attending these termly networks is an interactive and practical way to help you to tackle these issues in your school, support you in your role as a leader, raise the profile of science and improve the outcomes for your pupils.

Expectations of attending the network include engaging with pre-course tasks/reading and submitting your response to a gap task. This is a compulsory element of the network to ensure the CPD is meaningful and impactful.

Your timetable:

Autumn term meeting: 12th November 2024, 9:00-12:00

GUIDING PUPILS TO WORK SCIENTIFICALLY

Do your pupils think like scientists? Are they independently able to apply their learning? Combining substantive knowledge and disciplinary knowledge effectively in science can be a challenge for teachers and pupils. Discover strategies to explicitly teach the knowledge and skills your pupils need to work scientifically throughout the primary years. Ensure you are aware of essential health and safety support when undertaking practical science.

Spring term meeting: 13 March 2025, 9:00-12:00

RELATING NEW LEARNING TO THE ‘REAL-WORLD’

Explore how to connect science teaching to meaningful examples and real-world contexts that can support your pupils to develop an understanding of science and its purpose. Look at how pupils' attitudes and aspirations surrounding science can be improved through a range of teaching approaches. Discover the importance of considering issues such as sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion in your science curriculum using high-quality resources from the sector.

Summer term meeting: 1 July 2025, 9:00-12:00

ASSESSMENT TO SUPPORT LEARNING AND RESPONSIVE TEACHING

How can assessment approaches be used as diagnostic tools to guide planning and teaching? Discover a repertoire of assessment approaches specific to assessing primary science. Uncover how to elicit and address the misconceptions that pupils have about various scientific concepts. Be equipped to return to school with a clear understanding of the purpose of assessment in science and strategies to share with colleagues.

Linked to 'The 10 Key Issues with Children's Learning in Primary Science in England' and EEF’s ‘Improving Primary Science’ Guidance Report.

Inspired by the findings of The 10 Key Issues with Children's Learning in Primary Science in England (Bianchi, L., Whittaker, C. and Poole, A., 2020) report, SEERIH Subject Leader Networks explore the latest developments in primary science. The report presents classroom findings as seen through the eyes of primary science specialists to stimulate debate across all parties committed to developing science in primary schools. It invites us all to reflect upon the findings and to consider the implications to our area of activity or focus.

Attending these termly Networks is an interactive and practical way help you to to tackle these issues in your school and raise the profile of science.

Host or Publisher FASCINATE: Science and Engineering Education Innovation and Research Hub