Science CPD Partnership: supporting school science
"Confident and engaging delivery of physics in the classroom will help to inspire and enable young learners to understand how the world works and how they can contribute to it."
Published: 13 June 2022
STEM Learning has partnered with the Association for Science Education, The Ogden Trust, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Biology and Primary Science Teaching Trust to help schools deliver great science education.
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.
“The Trust is delighted to be part of this new partnership which brings together expertise, passion and commitment to science education,” says Clare Harvey, Chief Executive of The Ogden Trust. “We are proud to be delivering and developing the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching (SKPT) provision to support science teachers at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 with the teaching of physics. Confident and engaging delivery of physics in the classroom will help to inspire and enable young learners to understand how the world works and how they can contribute to it.”
“We are working with a fantastic network of physics coaches across the UK and the SKPT forces module is already being delivered. We are really pleased with the engagement from schools and looking forward to building momentum as we deliver further modules from September.”
For more information on the SKPT programme is available on our Teacher Support pages.
The Science CPD Partnership
The Science CPD Partnership aims to make it easy for teachers and school leaders to identify and access high quality support uniting 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.
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.
“This announcement reinforces our mission to drive school improvement and pupil outcomes through great science education. Science is absolutely fundamental in empowering young people, creating opportunities and ultimately changing lives.”
Sir Michael Griffiths, chair of STEM Learning’s Strategic Advisory Group