Improving the Quality of Primary Science in the East Midlands

In this session, Primary Science Quality Mark hub leaders from the East Midlands shared a wide range of examples from schools across the region of the impact of the recently revised PSQM programme. The PSQM is a year-long, professional development and wider school improvement programme with a focus on science subject leadership, science teaching and learning and curriculum design. The programme provides expert support to science subject leads to equip them to identify development priorities and professional learning needs leading to a transformation of the quality and profile of science education in their schools.

Each of the East Midlands PSQM hub leaders (who are all experts in primary science education) showcased the impact of science subject leadership development in one area related to either curriculum design or teaching and learning. The areas showcased were:

• promoting inclusion and equity
• planning progression in content and procedural knowledge
• connecting contexts and skills with other curriculum areas
• developing scientific vocabulary
• using formative and summative assessment strategies to support learning
• explicitly teaching the knowledge and skills required to work scientifically

Each of the examples profiled by the hub leaders outlined the audit, implement and review stages of the PSQM development cycle that the science lead had reflected on and gave examples of the leadership questions that had been discussed in school such as:

• Who will we involve in our implementation plans?
• How will we know that our actions have made a difference?
• What could our next steps be to involve more parents and the local community?
• Which types of professional development would benefit teachers most in this area?
• What have we discovered from our monitoring?

The hub leaders also answered questions about the Primary Science Quality Mark programme and explained how to find out more information. Since the conference, we have had several follow up conversations with school and science leaders from all around the world interested in taking part, as well as with primary science experts interested in becoming hub leaders. If you would like to find out more, please do get in touch!

PSQM website for more information

https://www.herts.ac.uk/for-business/skills/psqm

Any questions:

PSQM@herts.ac.uk

or Alex Farrer (PSQM Regional Lead East Midlands) alexandrafarrer1@gmail.com