Education mentors schools in science teaching

Ten primary schools will be working towards achieving the Primary Science Quality Mark award over the next year, with support from the PSQM Hub at The University of Northampton's School of Education.

The award system is validated by The Association for Science Education and the national network of Science Learning Centres. It celebrates the development of quality science teaching and learning in primary schools.

Elaine Batchelor, Senior Lecturer in Education, The University of Northampton's School of Education, is the Hub Leader and explained more about the award scheme:

I am delighted to be working with science coordinators to raise the profile of science in primary schools.

Learning science offers children an opportunity to develop and create knowledge and understanding about their world. Through experiments, models and creative thinking, children can discover how science ideas contribute to their daily life and technological changes.

Through the PSQM award scheme, the School of Education is supporting science leaders in primary schools as part of their continuing professional development. Hub meetings held at the School of Education will enable each school to achieve a bronze, silver or gold Quality Mark which is valid for three years

Elaine Batchelor

In the Ofsted report into Science Teaching 2007-10, published in January 2011, inspectors identified the Primary Science Quality Mark as an important mechanism for bringing about improvement in primary science:

Inspectors' interviews with staff in the schools that participated in the initiative confirmed the improvements in teachers' confidence and ability to teach science, with a consequent positive impact not only on pupils' performance but also on their engagement and enjoyment.

The primary schools that will be working with The University of Northampton will soon be confirmed.

Further details on the award scheme can be found at www.psqm.org.uk