CSciTeach is a chartered designation which recognises the unique combination of skills, knowledge, understanding and expertise that is required by individuals involved in the specific practice and advancement of science teaching and learning. This is underpinned by an annual commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The Association for Science Education (ASE), as a licensed body of the Science Council www.sciencecouncil.org is empowered under the terms of its Royal Charter to award CSciTeach to individuals who meet the requirements. The register of Chartered Science Teachers is a special section of the Science Council’s register of Chartered Scientists (CSci) which underpins the quality and equivalence of the awards.

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CSciTeach applicants must be active in science teaching and learning in the UK or overseas. This includes teachers in all state and independent schools, colleges and universities and those working in other settings (e.g. science learning centres and museums) as well as advisers, inspectors, consultants and researchers. To see the current Register of CSciTeach click here

The designation of CSciTeach benefits all those concerned with science teaching as a profession. It raises the profile of science teaching and learning, and for individuals it provides recognition of their expertise and commitment. CSciTeach is of value to:

• Individuals, setting them at the forefront of their profession

• Employers, who can be confident via CSciTeach of the quality of a prospective employee

• Government departments seeking to appoint advisers or consultants, which can be assured about the professional practice of an applicant

• Regulatory Authorities, which can be confident in specifying the designation in Acts of Parliament and regulations

• Parents, governors and other members of society who can be more confident in the competence of an individual

Download the application form and once complete, send it by email to csciteach@ase.org.uk attaching any supporting evidence (optional) and your certificates (compulsory). Your application will be reviewed at the next appropriate Registration Board. You may be asked for additional evidence or clarification at any stage in the application process. If you need any help with your application, including informal feedback on your draft application, please contact the CSciTeach Registrar at ASE.

For full details on the application procedure click here

The next deadline for CSciTeach is 1st September with the board meeting on 30th September

There is a one-off application fee of £75 and an annual fee of £20 to maintain registration with the Science Council and ASE*. In addition, you must maintain individual membership of ASE on an annual basis.

*Fees as of December 2009.

The 5 criteria are:

1)       Individual membership of ASE

2)       Academic qualifications or equivalent:

a)       Honours level qualification in which there is a minimum of 50% of course content in science.

Those with a degree either without honours, or with less than 50% course content in science, are required to have at least six years relevant and demonstrable experience

and

b)       Masters-level qualification in pedagogy / education or equivalent through demonstrable experience

If you do not meet criteria 2 a) and b), you will normally need ten years relevant and demonstrable experience instead.

3)       Experience of science teaching and learning:

A minimum of four years experience of teaching science following Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent, of which two should involve an appropriate level of responsibility.

For teachers in the independent sector, overseas, or those working in other settings, who do not have QTS, you will normally need six years relevant and demonstrable experience

4)  Completion of a Professional Review that provides evidence of your professional expertise

and competence in relation to:

a)  professional knowledge and understanding

which provides the underpinning base for practice

b) professional practice

which relates specifically to the development of effective teaching and learning strategies, including those which contribute to enhancing the quality of the educational experience of students and to the wider professional context of science education, and

c)       professional attributes

which are the overarching principles that characterise professional autonomy and relate to self-evaluation, collegial activity, personal responsibility and leadership.

5)  In addition, Chartered Science Teachers will:

• be expected to demonstrate work with colleagues and others in developing science education beyond the classroom or laboratory

• work within the professional code of conduct for Chartered Science Teachers;  and

• be able to demonstrate their commitment to continually maintaining and updating their professional expertise and competence on an annual basis.

There is no set way of presenting the evidence of your professional expertise and competence, but a CV or list of achievements will not suffice. Applicants could, for example, address each of the criteria as a series of bullet points with examples of impact, or combine them into a reflective narrative using a case study to show evidence of impact. 2 sides of A4 is the average length for a professional review.

Applicants are encouraged to make explicit references to examples of articles or papers written, leadership and development of others, a CPD diary, examples of analysis of particular aspects of practice, etc.

The assessors therefore need to be shown clearly that those applying for CSciTeach have engaged with overarching reflection, scholarship and research that translates into impact on teaching and learning. CSciTeach is a Masters level equivalent award. Please refer to the Quality Assurance Agency  description of Masters level work for further details

We aim to support you throughout your application and registration, however we do have in place an appeals system and a disciplinary procedure. Please click below for further details

Appeals Procedure (Registration Matters)    Appeals Procedure (Disciplinary Matters)

Disciplinary Procedure

Chartered Science Teachers are required to continually maintain and update their professional expertise and competence, and are now required to revalidate their award on an annual basis by showing:

• participation in appropriate continuing professional development
• continuing practice such that knowledge and competence of science teaching and learning at an appropriate level, have formed the basis for the fulfilment of their role
• maintenance of ASE membership and CSciTeach registration

For details on how to submit your annual CPD record online click here

 

In order to retain the CSci Teach award, registrants must:

1. Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities;

2. Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of at least three (exceptionally two) learning activities relevant to current or future practice from the following categories:

a) Work based learning (e.g. supervising staff / students, reflective practice)

b) Professional activity (e.g. involvement in a professional body, mentoring)

c) Formal / Educational (e.g. writing articles / papers, further education)

d) Self-directed learning (e.g. reading journals, reviewing books / articles)

e) Other (e.g. voluntary work, public service)

3. Seek to ensure that their CPD has benefited the quality of their practice;

4. Seek to ensure that their CPD has benefited the users of their work (employee, customer, student etc);

5. Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request.

Please note that those who do not renew their award annually will be removed from the CSci and CSciTeach register after due notice has been given.

For further examples of the different categories of CPD click here

Once you have been awarded CSciTeach we encourage you to use your post-nominal wherever possible to raise the status of the award.

As part of your ongoing commitment to CPD you may like to network with other Chartered Science Teachers at our Annual Conference, mentor potential applicants or sit on the Registration Board and review applications. We will invite you to get involved.

For details on how to submit your annual CPD record online click here

• Phone: 01707 283000 and ask for the CSciTeach Registrar
• Email: csciteach@ase.org.uk
• Website: www.ase.org.uk/csciteach
• Post: The CSciTeach Registrar, The Association for Science Education, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AA

 

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