New partnership announced to support Science Education CPD
We're delighted to be announce today that the ASE has signed up to be part of a new science education Continuing Professional Development (CPD) network. We will be joining STEM Learning, the Ogden Trust, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Biology and Primary Science Teaching Trust, to form the Science CPD Partnership.
The Science CPD Partnership will improve teachers’ access to career-long, science-specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD), building on the success of Science Learning Partnerships, Stimulating Physics Network and National STEM Learning Centre.
Government funding will ensure this support is affordable, with free or inexpensive support available locally and online plus generous bursaries to enable schools to release teachers for career-defining, immersive, residential CPD at the National STEM Learning Centre in York.
We’re delighted to be joining the Science CPD Partnership, drawing on ASE’s long history of and commitment to high quality professional learning for our community. Through the UK Government’s investment in this programme we are proud to be continuing our work on inclusion in schools, which we know is crucial in realising our vision of excellence in science education for all.
Hannah Russell, ASE Chief Executive
All of the partners involved have a long track record of providing high-quality professional development opportunities for the science education community, such as through our current Inclusion Project work that we started initially with the IOP and now deliver in conjunction with STEM Learning.
The need for excellent science education is greater than ever, preparing young people for a rapidly changing world. Science opens up opportunities for great jobs in innovative industries, making healthy choices and tackling global challenges such as climate change.
As the pace of scientific research accelerates, science CPD boosts the confidence of teachers, helping them keep up with their rapidly changing subject. Evidence shows that CPD improves student outcomes by allowing teachers to enhance and refine their practice – and makes it more likely that teachers will continue in the profession.
The Science CPD Partnership will reduce the disadvantage gap and improve the performance of under-represented groups in science at GCSE and A level, increase student progression to A level science (particularly in physics), boost the confidence of all science teachers and increase science teacher retention.