June 2007 - Posts
Further to my previous post, I have just received this e-mail (see below) from Ian Longman at Brighton Uni. It appears there could be zero costs to teachers / schools applying this year!
"Dear all,
Thank you for your support to date for the TDA’s pilot of the Science Additional Specialism Programme. We have heard good news today that the DfES have agreed to fund supply cover for the first cohort (year) of the pilot. Details to follow when we get them. This should help those schools/departments with their budgets. We have set Tuesday 10th July as a closing date for applications so I would be grateful for your help in disseminating this information. We will keep our web page updated as more information becomes available (http://brighton.ac.uk/education/courses/sciencecpd.php).
Best wishes
Ian"
_popupControl();
The Royal Society of Chemistry are organising training for non specialists.
Go to: www.rsc.org/chemnonspec for further details.
Highsted School is a partner school in Kent and will contribute to training. Alex Blanchard is a contact name at the school for more details.
Application details can be found by following this link:- SE213 : RSC Chemistry for Non-Specialists at Key Stage 4
It is a relevant course for non-Chemists especially as the skills developed and resources provided should contribute in no small way in meeting the Level 6+ project expectations of increased separate science at GCSE. Having a representative from your department on this course should benefit the whole department.
I have taken the liberty to attach an application form if you choose not to use the online registration facilities.
Thanks to Steve Bilclough for his talk and demo in Maidstone. Steve is HoD (Science) at MGGS and would be happy to support you with podcasting. Watch this space for details of a free course at his school coming up shortly.
Also thanks to John Hislop from Chatham House school. He spoke to us at Canterbury and the link to his web site is included in the copy of informayion he sent me (below):-
The website address for my podcasts is
http://web.mac.com/johnhislop/iWeb/Site/Physics/Physics.html
Note that the corresponding powerpoint needs to be running at the same time as you listen. The pupils would get them from the school's VLE. However there is one stand alone podcast that can be listened to and viewed and that is 'forces, video version'
When I went to the website to get the address I noticed a massive increase in the number of hits, since earlier this week. I wonder if the GCSE exam on the friday had anything to do with it!!
Attached flier advertises an upcoming support meeting for those doing or thinking of doing the OCR National course. This is in early July (4th) at Aylesford.
Attached are the typed up responses to the retention scenarios posed at the recent training in Maidstone. They may be useful to you if you have staff who you'd like to retain rather than having to go through recruitment. Watch this space for the responses from Canterbury.
Please note, the figures on the scenarios are not accurate but estimates using data which itself may or may not be current.
Please find attached details of a foundation degree for laboratory scientists which has been brought to my attention. You may have some students for whom this could be relevant (or TA's thinking of going for higher education?).
Application form attached here!
The attached file gives details of the Brighton University course which allows teachers to retrain to teach Physics or Chemistry. This is one way we might ease the recruitment problems for those subjects. Please pass to any person you feel may be interested. The application form is attached to a separate post.
This is the text of the annual lecture by Lord Rees (President of the Royal Society) which raises some interesting points regarding the future of science education. It is well worth a read.
http://www.schoolsnetwork.org.uk/uploads/documents/Transcript%20of%20presentation%20by%20Lord%20Rees_126558.pdf
This booklet (follow link below) reviews the condensed KS3 pilot and makes some interesting points for schools considering going down the 2 year KS3 route. Bearing in mind the forthcoming revised KS3 PoS schools need to consider carefully what they will offer.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/downloads/ks3flexcurricupd025906.pdf
At the recent Heads of Department training we flagged up this power point (now zipped) with ideas on how to use newspapers in your teaching. Once downloaded, you'll need to "unzip" it and save it before use.