Whether it’s a brand new project, or has been completed as part of another competition, all science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects are welcome to enter the Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition.

The competition is open to all 11-18-year olds resident in the UK.

Previous project titles have included Do birds have a favourite colour?, Cerebral palsy mobility device and Vitamins and minerals from recycled food.

Why enter The Big Bang Competition?

• Showcase your project to thousands of people at The Big Bang Fair 2019
• Compete for over £20,000 worth of prizes, including the chance to be crowned UK Young Engineer of the Year or GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year
• Present your work to employers, universities and journalists
• Get tips from leading industry and academic experts
• Meet other young scientists and engineers from across the UK
• Boost your profile of achievement on UCAS form or college application

The application deadline is 2 November 2018.

Find out more and enter online here (external link)

 

 

Science CPD events and courses organised by Henry Hammond at Alexandra Park School

For further information or any booking queries, please contact: hhammond@alexandrapark.school

Primary school events

2018-19 Primary science network meetings

We will be hosting six primary science networking meetings during the next academic year, one in each half. Haringey Traded Services previously supported these, but this will cease next year. From September 2018 we are introducing a small charge of £30 per network meeting or £120 for all six meetings. The timings will all be 1pm-4pm and the meetings will be held at either APS or one of our partner schools in the local area. The dates for 2018-2019 Primary science network meetings are:

• Wednesday 10 October 2018
• Wednesday 28 November 2018
• Wednesday 30 January 2019
• Wednesday 20 March 2019
• Wednesday 1 May 2019
• Wednesday 19 June 2019

To book your place on all six meetings – click here.

Or just for the first meeting on 10 October at APS – click here.

Also, you can also still book a free place on our last network meeting of this academic year on Wednesday 27 June from 1pm-4pm – click here.

Role of the primary science subject leader  – Friday 28 September 2018

We are now taking bookings for this full day CPD – perfect for those new to a science lead role – click here.

Primary conference – Wednesday 14 November 2018

For a place on our annual Primary Conference, please book here.

 

Secondary School events

2018-19 Secondary science post-holders’ meetings

We will be hosting three secondary science post-holders’ meetings during the next academic year, one per term.  Each meeting will run from 1pm-4pm and will be hosted by APS or one of our partner schools in the local area.  From September, there will be a small charge of £30 per meeting.

The meeting dates are:

• Wednesday 3 October 2018
• Wednesday 13 February 2019
• Wednesday 10 July 2019

To book your place on the first 2018-19 meeting on Wednesday 3^rd October hosted at APS – click here.

Also, you can still book a free place on our last post-holders meeting of this academic year on Wednesday 11 July from 1pm-4pm at APS – click here.

2018-19 Physics network meetings

We will be running three Physics network meetings during the next academic year, one per term. Each meeting will run from 1pm – 5pm and APS will host, or one of our partner schools in the local area.  From September, there will be a small charge of £30 per meeting with a free technician space for each teacher booking. The meeting dates are:

• Wednesday 17 October 2018
• Wednesday 23 January 2019
• Wednesday 8 May 2019

To book your place on the first Physics network meeting of 2018-19 on Wednesday 17 October hosted at APS – click here  

 

Both Primary and Secondary school events

Train to become a Physics Specialist with Teacher Subject Specialist Training (TSST)

The purpose of this training is to improve the subject knowledge of non-specialist and returning teachers. It will increase the number of hours taught by offering school-led teacher subject specialism training opportunities.

NRTA TSA expect to run a Physics TSST programme in 2018 / 2019. The course is aimed at teachers with QTS who are already teaching or plan to teach some physics at secondary/FE level. The course is also suitable for those returning to teaching after a career break.

For teachers meeting the criteria, this course is FREE through funding provided by the government. This includes:

• non-specialist teachers who could potentially teach a relevant subject in addition to their main subject;
• non-specialist teachers who are currently teaching a relevant subject either full-time or in addition to their specialist subject;
• teachers looking to return to the profession.

This course is ideal for Primary or Secondary teachers to teach cross phase – Key Stage: KS3 and KS4.

Venue: APS

Cost: Free for all participants

Purpose:

• Allows you to teach Physics confidently up to GCSE.
• The courses draw upon up-to-date research to improve subject knowledge, pedagogy and practical skills.
• The training will blend six face-to-face days with guided independent learning and online support.

Outcomes for participants:

• Wider teaching opportunities.
• Improved overall quality of teaching and learning in your lessons.
• Extension of your subject knowledge and the opportunity to learn and develop skills with others from schools across the region.

Outcomes for schools:

• Improved quality of teaching and learning in Physics lessons
• Measurable improvement of Physics provision within the school
• Greater flexibility of staffing, for example an opening up of opportunities for the Science department to run separate sciences at KS4

Please contact hhammond@alexandrapark.school to express interest or with any questions.

 

 

Shirin Bahai, astrophysicist and researcher at UCL, Institute of Education, is currently leading these programmes and primary science education at the Harris Federation (based in Coleraine). Shirin’s main role is to deliver science teacher training which links physics, chemistry and biology with PhD research into the effects of questioning on thinking processes.

One of the projects requires a minimum of 100 pupils (or up to 250) and involves children working on a space programme. Last year’s programme was a science experiment to see how certain things grow in space and at what rate (items were taken up to the international space station). Please see details below for further information on how your school can take part.

Please email Shirin to express interest in any or all of the following programmes: s.sheikhbahai@harrisprimarycolerainepark.org.uk

Science Leaders Programme

• Training for primary science leaders/specialist teachers: schools will participate in the PhD research and will have access to an innovative science curriculum for Years 1 – 6, produced as part of that research. The curriculum has a logical progression and supports conceptual and abstract thinking.
• It is a 4-day programme run over 8 to 12 weeks beginning in September 2018, dates tbc.
• The total cost for each member of staff is £150. There is no maximum number of participants.
• Further details here (external link)

All is One (Universe) Project

• An engaging Year 6 particle physics project designed to prepare pupils for KS3/4 science, run with UCL since 2012.
• Requires one day of training for the science subject leader or specialist teacher (if they are taking part in the above Science Leaders Programme, this is one of those four days, not additional)
• It is a 12-week project, two hours per week (in a solid block) which is then run by the home school.
• For pupils participating, the final outcome is to run a science workshop over a whole day for visitors/ parents/ sixth formers. Coleraine’s workshop day is 5 July and staff from other schools are invited to see it in action – please let Shirin know if you would like to attend.
• The cost of the training is £150 ( it is free if you are also doing the Science Leaders Programme). The is an additional cost of  £150 for the project. Equipment costs £500 – £700 but can be used in all science lessons for all year groups.
• Further details here (external link).

Astronomy Club

• Year 5 hands-on activities with the National Space Centre using lesson plans produced by Cambridge Education. The aim is to extend pupils’ knowledge and interest in physical sciences and engineering through a focus on space and astronomy.
• A 12-week programme delivered after school as a club for 90 minutes. Some materials are needed but these are usually items schools already have, e.g. string, fabric etc.
• Pupils visit the National Space Centre in Leicester (separate cost) and the outcome is the whole school Big Bang! Exhibition/assembly. All teaching materials provided.
• The training is delivered as part of the Science Leaders Programme (SLP) at no extra cost. For schools wishing to be involved in this but not the SLP, the training costs just £75 per school. Practical resources cost £100 – £150
• Further information (external link).

100 Pupils Project

• A project linked to the International Space School: ISSET.
• It needs a minimum of 100 pupils to take part (can be up to 250 pupils).
• Pupils work on a space project, e.g. science experiment to see how certain things grow in space and at what rate (items are taken up to the space station).
• 3 – 5 days (3 full days or 5 part days). Cost is approximately £150 – £200 per pupil and depends on the project and number of children. The more involved, the lower the cost.
• The project is led by a co-ordinator in each participating school but is organised by Shirin.
• NB This project will only run if there is enough interest.

Highgate School is hosting an exciting day exploring the roles of various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) disciplines in breaking through the final frontier! A range of activities will demonstrate the practical application of the science that students meet on the GCSE syllabus and beyond. The New Horizons STEM day is a fantastic opportunity for the most able Year 10 pupils to enjoy a fun and fascinating day exploring the links between the STEM subjects, whilst also experiencing a taster of what studying STEM subjects at A-level and beyond would be like.

For further information or to book, please contact: highgatechrysalis@highgateschool.org.uk  

 

Dr Andrew Szydlo is a world-renowned chemistry teacher and demonstrator. His science roadshows attract thousands of spectators each year and he has delivered talks as far away as Mauritius and Kenya. He is one of a select few scientists to talk multiple times at the Royal Institution and is always well received by primary and secondary school audiences. Dr Szydlo can be booked to deliver a roadshow at your school – there are a few dates available at the end of the Summer Term 2018 and bookings are now open for the 2018-19 academic year.

 

For further information, please contact: highgatechrysalis@highgateschool.org.uk  

Read more about Dr Szydlo here (external link)

The STEM in Schools 2017 conference will take place in Central London on 30 November 2017. This is a free event for teachers and head teachers.

Find out more here (external link)