Key Messages

Autumn 2009 update

• Assessing Pupils Progress materials will be published in January 2010
• Tom has already adapted the Scheme of learning for Science to take account of these changes; this document is available now and if schools want the update contact Tom to arrange a visit. Please book well in advance as Tom’s diary gets busy!
• A number of courses are planned to help support teachers (and pupils) make progress in science skills:

 Course: 23^rd March 2010 Science Conference Tom Robson & Rosemary Feasey ( Centre Parcs, Longleat, book early to secure a place) 

The focus for this conference will be APP (Assessing Pupil Performance) in primary science which is to be launched in January 2010. 

It will impact on those school intending to use APP to assess science, introducing new Assessment Focus strands which will make demands on teachers to increase children's access to scientists and their theories, modelling science, risk assessment, collaboration and communication as well as collecting and analysing evidence. 

The aims of the conference will be to introduce teachers to APP in science, consider the implications and suggest approaches to teaching and learning as well as managing and collecting evidence for APP.  As always the conference will a mix of up to date issues in science and great ideas and fun activities

 Rosemary Feasey is a leading expert in primary science.  She is currently a freelance consultant working with a range of schools across the UK and working overseas.  Rosemary was the first person from a primary science background to become Chair of the Association for Science Education (ASE) in its 100 year history.  She is passionate about primary science has always been proactive in primary science and worked to change the nature of primary science and develop the quality of science education.   

Rosemary also works across the UK schools, local authorities providing bespoke inset and key note speeches for conferences, she also works across the National Science Learning Centre Network, running a range of courses and bespoke continuing professional development.  She has written a range of publications including GINN Star Science, which is the UK's best selling primary science scheme, Creative Science Achieving the WOW Factor with 5-11 Year Olds  Primary Science For Teaching Assistants and Jumpstart Science.  Most recently Rosemary worked on a series of children's animated programmes Just So Darwin for the BBC.

 Book Tom up if you want APP and science input over the next year.

Tom will be putting on a series of courses for schools on:

• Assessing pupils in science skills
• Using the Wilts new scheme of learning
• Science spells- how to make magic happen in your classroom using science spells (skills)

Science Sampling and Teacher Assessment to Replace SATs.

From 2010, national standards in science at key stage 2 will be measured through the introduction of a new statutory sampling arrangement. The results of the new sampling arrangement will not be reported at school level. QCDA have confirmed that the science tasks will be done in selected schools on the Friday of SATs week. QCDA will contact eh selected schools directly.

The tests will be modified slightly this year to take into consideration the changes to a more skill based curriculum and in successive years more aspects of the skills based science curriculum will be tested.

Rather than carrying out heavy revision session ensure the pupils have developed competency in the science skills in a number of different contexts.

You will be expected to make a teacher assessment judgement at the end of the year based on the progress make in science skills. If you are not teaching the skills you will not be able to make this judgement! Tom will send out more information about summative assessment procedures for year 6 as he becomes aware of them.

Key Messages about science assessment

• No whole national testing – TA only reported
• sampling used to measure national standards not used for school or LA accountability - not published at school or LA level - not about individuals or schools but getting a national picture
• schools selected will be required to take part - the 14th May has been put aside for this and schools are aware of the possibility of using this date for the test.
• a small proportion of schools will take the test - size of sample has yet to be confirmed and school selection has not yet taken place.  Schools and LA will be informed at the end of next term
• Whole Yr 6 cohort will be used in a school. Access arrangements have yet to be confirmed but it is likely that this will be the same as for En and Ma
• Monitoring of administration in line with normal 10% sample of KS2 cohort
• Test content will remain the same as in previous years although they are looking differences with APP criteria and the test will gradually evolve to incorporate this.
• Rose review curricula changes will also be incorporated when appropriate.

End to KS2 SATS

With the proposed end to Science SATs from 2010 children will surely experience a more balanced science curriculum where Sc1 and the teaching of skills should be an integral part of all lessons. The ASE welcomes the change:

Overwhelming evidence gathered over the past decade shows that end-of-KS 2 testing has restricted the curriculum and methods of teaching science not only in Year 6, but also in the earlier years of primary school. This has undoubtedly diminished students' interest in pursuing scientific activities.

 How will science look in the new primary curriculum?

Although it all seems to have gone quiet on the New Primary Curriculum front it is good to know that science rightly remains a key area of the curriculum.

Science still remains an important part of the curriculum and the skills taught and developed within this subject can be applied across the curriculum.  Tom has taken all the revised science skills (APP/National Curriculum) and used them to produce a new scheme of learning for science. The skills are listed on (see appendix) the left side of the sheet and then each skill is differentiated into progressive success criteria. Following this skills planning page is a series of activities that teachers can use (or not!) to help pupils make progress in the selected skill.

Key Questions

·         Which skills can your class apply with relative fluency?

·         Which skills do you class need to get better at?

·         Out of all the skills listed by you as a development need which TWO will you choose to develop in the next topic?

·         Think of a pupil that may be demonstrating ‘level 3ness’ in science (skills). Are the skills you have listed the same as other colleagues in your school will come up with (moderation)?

·         How do you manage the moderation of science (skills) in your school?

 

Key Resources Available

Updated SoL (sample available on Tom’s web site (google Tom Robson)

Interactive learning objectives/success criteria for science skills

Moderation support: strategy and activities

 

 

For more information contact:

Tom Robson

Adviser Team Leader

Science, Assessment & Learning

 t-robson@btconnect.com

PDC, Bowerhill, Melksham, SN12 6TT

01225 793349