Please find attached my latest update sent to schools.
This is a competition which aims to highlight the many different jobs available in the Heath Service which are STEM based. I have attached fliers and further information in a zip file. The Word document is a good place to start as it’s a letter addressed to teachers. Entries to be in by end of May.
The NatStrat website has come up with a support tool for those of you wishing to do some intervention in science. Follow the link below for further information and guidance of what you can do to support identified students..
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/fl1/intervention
This link has further suggestions and support for intervention.
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/fl32/Intervention
Future Engineers are arranging a visit to the Rutherford Appleton Lasboratory, Didcot in Oxfordshire for Children in years 9, 10 and 11. This laboratory has a global reputation for excellence and is one of the foremost laboratories of its kind.The event will focus on Engineering Applications in Space and is to take place on the 31st of March 2010.The Space Science and Technology Department at Rutherford Appleton (SSTD) carries out an exciting range of world-class space research and technology development. With significant involvement in over 150 space missions in recent years, SSTD is at the forefront of UK Space Research.Programe of the DayThe day will commence at 10:00hrs with a welcome and introduction to the facilities by Professor Richard Holdaway FREng, Director Space Science & Technology, STFC. There will be a short lecture on the work of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, followed by a tour of the centre and interactive activities for the students to partake in. Lunch is provided for all students and teachers.The day will end with an evaluation and will finish at 15:00hrs.Details of How to Find Rutherford Appleton Laboratoryhttp://www.scitech.ac.uk/About/Conts/Find/RAL/Introduction.aspx There are still a few places left on this exciting visit. To register your interest please email a.davidson@stemit.org.uk
If you are including work on environmental issues, this photographic competition might be for you. Attached is a flyer you can print out at school. Below are details of the prizes and a link to the web site giving more details. This could be a project for Science Week and linked with some writing which you could assess in a variety of ways including APP assessment.
Great Prizes, including Yearly suscription to the National geographic Magazine, Family Ticket to At Bristol, Photographic accessories and other exciting prizes.
http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/support/tiki-index.php?page=1209%2FMP%2FFOS&structure=TheMeetingPlace
You are encouraged to take up this scheme which will lead to enrichment and hopefully further engagement in science. Please see the attached file (which is zipped) for contacts and further details.
I have received this information recently. If you are interested let me know and I'll try to get a discount for a group of you. I haven't used this resource but know technicians might appreciate some support if the offer is good.
I co-run a resources website for secondary school science technicians that you may be interested in.
Preproom.org is a subscription based website aimed at providing science technicians (and other science staff) with a wealth of unique resources that cannot be found anywhere else. Hundreds of schools across the country have joined us since we launched in 2007 and hundreds of schools log in daily.
We can supply a handful of your schools with free logins for a period of 7 days if you wish to evaluate site and we can offer a 10-15% saving if you purchase subscriptions for 10 or more schools in one go. More details can be found here: http://preproom.org/la/la.aspx
The Wellcome trust are running a competition and offering free kits to any schools interested. Visit http://www.survivalrivals.org/ for details. See attachment with more details of the competition. Win a place on a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Please find attached my latest news update. If ever you want anything advertising around KCC secondary schools, please let me know and I'll include it on this blog and or in my newsletters.
Please find attached details and an application form for the forthcoming training in Maidstone. This course is for all who manage radioactive sources in schools. Whilst this role is usually best fulfilled by a teacher, exceptionally it can be a technician (contact Keith Milchem if you have any queries about this). The course in on Feb 11th 2010 in Maidstone.
I have received information from Paul McDaid at Dartford Grammar School regarding some events he is arranging for the New Year. These are attached in the word file. Paul wrote: "Please pass on this information to the relevant people within your organisation. We have two further events that we would like you to know about and hope that some of your staff or pupils can attend."
I suspect this will be first come first served - so get in contact quickly!
I have attached some information coming out about the new Specifications in science and guidance on the length of the course and when assessments will be available. This will be an on-going exchange for some time I expect. It will be linked to the expectation that KS3 is a 3 year course (but if taken as a 2 year course will need to be reported at the end of the second year (ie the end of the keystage). GCSE is expected to be a 2 year course as well. The attached file has been made up by cutting and pasting information from our Nat Strat regional adviser and some responses made by AQA. This is an area HoDs will need to keep an eye on. Whislt wishing to build a flexible offer in schools, the flexibility regarding assessment may noy be there!!!!
This is a great opportunity for teachers wishing to visit Cern. Suzy Gray from the Science Learning Centre (SE) has written to me as follows:-
We have a fantastic opportunity for KS4 and KS5 teachers of Physics to attend a fully funded study visit to CERN - The email below gives details of how teachers can register their interest in attending. Uptake at the other Science Learning Centres has been extremely fast, so we anticipate the same for the South East region.
Teachers need to register their interest by 18th December
Please see the attached word file for more details. Good Luck!!
Attached is the latest offering of updates.
Attached is a zipped file with a Christmas science activity you might like to try. Ho Ho HO - What fun!!!!!
Make sure you do any risk assessments needed before using.
Darrell Hamilton from Tunbridge Wells Boys has organised the attached INSET showcasing some Physics practicals. This is supported by the IOP. He wrote the following to me.
"I have an event running 10th Dec around some interesting practicals. The spaces are limited (about 8 remain), so it'll be first come first served. Would you mind letting people know, through the blog/forwarding my email, please?" Any takers need to move fast!!! I notice this includes some free food - now there's an incentive.
I have been asked by the Kent and Medway STEMPOINT to advertise the STEM briefing meetings that they have organised. Details are in the attached flier. I hope many of you will find a meeting that you can attend. Let's get STEM up the agenda in schools!
It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of our Annual Science Conference. The uptake was very low (single figures) and we had to leave time for Kent University to prepare their facilities. The conference was widely advertised by ourselves and the Science Learning Centre. Despite offers of funding to support attendance we did not get enough people signed on to the day to make it viable. SORRY! I would like to thank Nigel Holmes for all the work he put in organising the day, Jane Anderson and her colleagues at Kent University for their commitment to and support of this conference. I would also like to thank all of the potential workshop leaders who were lined up for the day. We may try to revive the conference in 2010. Watch this space for details. Thank you to those of you who did sign up.
Attached is a useful powerpoint for those of you considering new courses or a change of emphasis at KS4. Do contact me for further details or more information. The options available and some statutory rules are shown. There is also an explanatory sheet covering vocational GCSE and other courses.
I was going to attend a STEM conference in London but had to withdraw at the last moment. They have sent through this power point presented on the day by Jonathan Bach from the National Strategies. Please read this as it puts into context and points to the comparative time we should be setting aside for APP (it is not very high!) Obviously it would have been good to hear exactly what was said. However, there are impoprtant messages put down in print.
Please find attached your invitation to a FREE energy revision event for students and teachers.
SEPnet, the South East Physics network, is running a free afternoon energy event for GCSE students at venues around the South East. The session consists of a dynamic lecture, an exhibition of hands on activities and a quiz.
The dates and venues are:
12th January - University of Kent
13th January – University of Southampton
14th January – Royal Holloway, University of London
20th January – Queen Mary, University of London
1st February – Aylesbury High School, Buckinghamshire
3rd February - University of Sussex
In the evening local teachers are invited to attend a CPD session, including a chance to try the student activities and a drop in workshop on teaching energy in the classroom.
This is the video to go with the Foot Spa (HSW) activity. A great bit of pseudo science! Watch and enjoy!!
At a recent subject Leader Day Anna Rothwell (Bradbournes Sch) said she'd share some materials to help make a levels display. Attached are a photo of the display and some publisher files to support making it.
Here is the amended powerpoint we used on the day and the video for the foot spa (HSW) exercise.
Here are the additional resources used by Stella Paes (Regional Adviser for Science - National strategies) at this meeting. They are zipped as an attachment.
I have received the following information which you might find useful as a Science Week activity next year which is low cost and a bit different. Attached are the flier for the event.
"I am dropping you this email with news of an upcoming event I will be delivering on-line for Science week 2010.Following the success of last years trial run Petroplus Coryton have agreed to support a second year of live webcasts for science week. We had over 5000 pupils tuning in to the live science / energy webcast during science week 2009, and I want to double that figure this year. To do this I will need your help..... please feel free to pass this flyer onto any school you think might be looking for something different for science week.Anybody interested in taking part should drop me an email for further information. r.farr@virgin.net or visit the website www.theenergymc.com"
The Government and the National Strategies are focussing on the uptake of STEM subjects post 16. All schools, whether they have sixth forms or not, will have to disclose how many students go on to study post 16 STEM subjects. In order to raise this number STEM enrichment and engagement activities can help. What are you doing to support STEM in your school? Complete this audit form and plan how you can plug gaps or improve your offer. We need more scientists and technologists (including mathematicians) to help keep UKPLC ahead of the rest!!!
This attachment lists the "Top 3" beneits chosen by delegates at training last week. 32 teachers were asked to brainstorm benefits and then choose, in groups, their top 3. This list was generated from those group responses.
If you are looking for different ways to carry out plenaries, look no further than this TES page. The powerpoint contains over 130 ideas for plenaries suitable for many different contexts. This really is a good one. You'll need to register (free) to download it. It is quite a large file but worth the wait.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6017890&firstLoginPage=Y
Attached is the document (word) which contains the separated threads of the 5 Assessment Focii for science.
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