Science NQT Conference (Kent) Event

Programme

‎9.30- 9.45‎
Welcome and aims of the day.‎
Introduction – What Constitutes a Healthy Department?‎

‎9.45 – 11.00‎
Progress and Differentiation in Science
Schools exist to help students make progress – and this needs to be ‘visible’ to the student, ‎teacher, parent, senior leader and inspector. Also, to help students make progress, teachers ‎may need to differentiate their teaching – but what does this mean in practical ‎terms? There are no simple answers to these complex challenges, but by the end of this ‎workshop we will have reflected and explored options around:‎

• making progress in science lessons more visible to all involved, and, ‎
• differentiating science lesson activities in ways that require relatively low levels of ‎planning.‎

‎10.00 – 11.15 ‎
Coffee

‎11.15 – 12.30‎
Either: Extended Writing Workshop
The demands are growing for students to produce extended writing in response to science ‎questions, especially for the more able at GCSE and A level . How can we develop the skills ‎needed to turn short statements into sentences, then into paragraphs and coherent passages ‎of writing? There are many long-term approaches to this - but for the shorter-term, by the ‎end of this workshop we will have reflected and explored options to:‎

• help students identify the form of writing a question is requiring, and, ‎
• structure their answers to meet it.‎

Or: Getting practical
Science without practical work is like swimming without water. However are practical ‎activities always a good use of time? In this session you will be asked to evaluate a range of ‎practical tasks and use a tool to judge their effectiveness.‎

‎12.30 – 1.00‎
Maintaining Curiosity
The 2013 Ofsted report into science education – Maintaining Curiosity – gives clear ‎messages to schools about what is expected in science lessons. Here we’ll look at the key ‎messages from the report and consider how they fit with our definition of a healthy ‎department.‎

‎1.00-1.45 Lunch

‎‎1.45 - 2.45‎
Science and STEM Activities to Engage and Enthuse
Those new to science teaching are often keen to provide enrichment activities outside the ‎curriculum. However running a science club can be demanding and requires extensive ‎planning. Sound advice will be provided on managing extra-curricular activities and there ‎will be a range of engaging activities to try out.‎

‎2.45 – 3.30‎
Science Support from Discovery Park
A scientist from Pfizer who oversees their outreach programme will describe the support ‎that is available from Discovery Park and share resources and ideas that Pfizer volunteers ‎use in schools.‎

‎3.30-4.00pm
Support networks in Kent. In this session, we will explore how we can set up and ‎sustain ‎networks ‎in Kent to provide support for those new to science teaching. What support would ‎make your first years in the classroom a little easier? What could teachers share with each ‎other that would reduce the demands on their time?‎

The day will provide opportunities for NQTs to:‎

• Explore the support that is available for science education across Kent
• Network with peers and build a self-supporting community (networks will run termly from ‎Autumn 2014 via the hub schools)‎
• Be inspired by engaging with contemporary science on Kent’s research-based campus
• Try out some STEM activities that will engage your students

Booking a place to attend
The programme is free to attend as part of funded support from Kent County Council.‎
To book email mslc@soton.ac.uk or call 023 8059 8810, 023 8059 8810 stating name, email address, job title, school and any ‎dietary or accessibility requirements.‎