Design and Technology Provides Safe Lift Off

by Michelle Evans at Science Learning Centre West Midlands Flying is relevant to most of our lives, as ‘foreign’ holidays have become the norm. Yet it is often only when we are sat on a plane and ‘past the point of no return’ that we begin to wonder if it’s safe and even about the [...]

Progress and Progression in the new Ofsted Framework

By Ian Richardson The word around schools and staff rooms is that satisfactory is no longer good enough. How can this be? In January 2012 the new Framework for the Inspection of Schools came into force and it was updated in March 2012. Also in January 2012, Ofsted published supporting material such as ‘The evaluation [...]

Improving Gifted and Talented Children in Primary Science

In this video Nicola Waller, Professional Development Leader, at the National Science Learning Centre talks about how her course will help primary teachers to develop their gifted and talented pupils.  The course is called Extending Gifted and Talented Children in Primary Science.

Valentine’s Day Science Lesson Planning Ideas

by Mark Langley. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, no doubt many of you will be looking for ideas to link your class activity with a day that may be on many of your students minds.  In our video, Mark Langley, one of the Professional Development Leaders at the National Science Learning Centre demonstrates how to [...]

Class. Clips. Action!

By Maria Rossini Using video footage in lessons has, thankfully, come a long way from the realms of tiny TVs on trolleys and remote controls without batteries. Nowadays, the biggest bugbear is that many schools block online streaming from sites like You Tube. Never fear though, there are some great sources of searchable clips, often [...]

Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Science Leaders’ Conference: Achieving Excellence in Science in the New Educational Landscape

by Emily Perry The 2012 Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Science Leaders’ Conference has Achieving Excellence in Science in the New Educational Landscape as its theme. We will be exploring what we mean by excellence through two themes: leading a science team and managing the curriculum, while placing these themes in the context of a [...]

Bring Science to Life: CSI Forensics

Our latest video is a spoof based around our course Bring Science to Life: CSI Forensics.  The footage is taken from the actual course and features Brian Hook and Clive Donner, both former members of New Scotland Yard’s anti terrorist branch. The course provides an exciting and interactive way to bring science to life in [...]

Physics for Non Specialists Video

Katy Bloom, Professional Development Leader at the National Science Learning Centre, discusses the issues facing schools teaching physics, in particular where non-specialist physics teachers are teaching the subject. Katy’s course, Physics for Non-Specialists, can assist to develop confidence, knowledge, understanding and anecdotes to successfully teach physics for 11-16 year olds. You can find more information [...]

Merry Christmas from the Science Learning Centres

Welcome to the last of our resource and activity gifts for Christmas. A huge thank you to all of our delegates who have participated at one of the Science Learning Centres across the country this year. Here are the last of our resources for you to share, use or take inspiration from. Primary (Please scroll [...]

Five easy things to help enrich your science teaching

By John Walker How do we really bring STEM subjects alive for learners?  How do we provide those memorable and stimulating experiences to help them see beyond the limits of the school curriculum and realise that STEM subjects are both relevant and exciting for real?  Teachers usually recognise that the answers to these and similar [...]