Schools Awarded Primary Science Quality Mark

Primary Science Quality Awards will be awarded to 309 infant, junior, primary, middle and special schools over the next few weeks to celebrate a commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning.

In the second year of the national scheme, Bronze awards are being presented to fifty-five schools, Silver awards are being presented to 204 and Gold awards are being presented to fifty schools. So far, since its national launch in 2010, over 500 schools across the UK and in British Forces schools in Germany and Cyprus have achieved the award.

The Primary Science Quality Mark is a joint project led by led from the Science Learning Centre East of England at the University of Hertfordshire and by the network of Science Learning Centres and the Association for Science Education. It is supported by the Wellcome Trust and the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust.

Jane Turner, Associate Director Science Learning Centre East of England and PSQM project leader, said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Award is a significant achievement for a school. The standard of the submissions has been extremely high and their content is quite breath-taking. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”

Schools taking part in the scheme are very positive about the impact of working for the award.

Annie Squires, St Albans Primary  School in Derbyshire, a Silver awardee, said: “It has been a whirlwind year, one where science at our school was flung firmly into the spotlight and remained there! I have loved every second of the process and I have witnessed myself grow in confidence and ability as a result, and also seen staff and pupils become more enthusiastic and engaged with science.”

Alex Pethick, New Cangle Primary School in Suffolk, another Silver awardee, added: “The Primary School Quality Mark award scheme provides schools with the ‘toolkit’ in which to improve the quality of teaching and learning in science and therefore I would recommend it to any school that strives to move science forward.”

The Primary School Quality Mark scheme enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development.

For more information, please contact Jane Turner PSQM project leader at: j.turner@herts.ac.uk or phone 01992 517627 or mobile 07834 140666

Award events

The following Primary Science Quality Mark award ceremonies will be occurring over the next few weeks should you wish to carry out interviews and do filming:

Date             Time        Venue                                                   Awards to be  presented by:

17 October  13.00       Old Priory Junior School, Plymouth    Prof Dudley Shallcross, AstraZenecca Science Teaching Trust  

18 October  10.30       Humphry Davy School, Penzance      Sue Martin, Wow Science

19 October  18.30       York Railway Museum                          Ian Richardson, recently retired Ofsted HMI (National Advisor for Science)

25 October  18.30       The Royal Institution London               Graham Stuart MP, Chair of Education Select Committee and Prof Michael Reiss, Institute of Education

1 November 18.30       The Marine Museum Aberdeen         Prof Sue Black and Prof Wynne Harlen

9 November 18.30        The Victoria Museum, Liverpool       Kathy Schofield, Chair of Association for Science Education Primary Committee

Notes to Editor

Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is an award scheme to develop and celebrate the quality of science teaching and learning in primary schools. Schools can achieve bronze, silver and gold awards. Schools achieve a PSQM award through a year-long process of initial audit, followed by action and reflection.

The Association for Science Education (ASE) is the largest subject association in the UK. Members include teachers, technicians and others involved in science education. The Association plays a significant role in promoting excellence in teaching and learning of science in schools and colleges. Working closely with the science professional bodies, industry and business, ASE provides a UK-wide network bringing together individuals and organisations to share ideas and tackle challenges in science teaching, develop resources and foster high quality Continuing Professional Development. The Association for Science Education can trace its origins back to 1900. Incorporated by Royal Charter in October 2004, the ASE operates as a Registered Charity. Further details of the ASE and its regional, national and international activities can be found at its website www.ase.org.uk

The network of Science Learning Centres is a national network for professional development in science teaching. Their aim is to improve science teaching and to inspire pupils by providing them with a more exciting, intellectually stimulating and relevant science education, enabling them to gain the knowledge and the understanding they need - both as the citizens and as the scientists of the future. For more information, please visit: https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/

The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. We support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. For more information, please visit: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/

The University of Hertfordshire is the UK’s leading business-facing university and an exemplar in the sector.  It is innovative and enterprising and challenges individuals and organisations to excel.  It is one of the region’s largest employers with over 2,300 staff and a turnover of almost £231 million. With a student community of over 27,700 including more than 2,900 international students from over eighty-five different countries, the University has a global network of over 170,000 alumni.   The University of Hertfordshire was awarded ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2010’ by the Times Higher Education (THE) and ranks in the top 4% of all universities in the world according to the recent THE, World University Rankings. For more information, please visit www.herts.ac.uk

Did you know….?350 qualified nurses graduate from the University of Hertfordshire each year - We are caring! Find out more at  go.herts.ac.uk/didyouknow

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