Secondary Courses

Facilitator Name: Nik Rorke

Course Code: RN364 C01

• 19th January 2023: 09:00 - 16:00 - Colyton Grammar

Following the publication of the Ofsted Research Review: science in 2021, this course is designed to enable participants, from any phase, to review their curriculum against the key messages. The course will highlight the key findings and provide a facilitated forum for sharing ideas with peers. Participants will work together, evaluating their curriculum against Ofsted's findings and planning next steps in the development of their curriculum. Professional Development Leader support will be available to begin any re-design process following this evaluation.

Facilitator Name: Phil Lynch

Course Code: RN201 / C03

Session Date:
2nd March 2023: 09:30 - 16:00 - Colyton Grammar

The aim of this course is to enable teachers and technicians of physics to explore a range of ideas for teaching topics across the physics curriculum. Through hands-on activities you will undertake new and established strategies and relevant practical techniques to make students' learning more effective.

Facilitator Name: Alex Williamson

Course Code: RN344 / C01

Session Date:
14th March 2023: 09:30 - 16:00 - Teign School

Develop the ability of your students to apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures. This course focuses on the demands of AO2 in exam specifications and offers practical advice and suggestions on how to develop application and problem solving skills

Facilitator Name: Alex Williamson

Course Code: RN208 C08

Session Date:
Teign School - 2nd May 2023: 09:30 - 17:00

If you have been asked to teach physics and it is outside your specialist area, this course is for you.

It has been developed with the Institute of Physics and throughout the course we will develop your understanding of the principles of physics and the skills and strategies needed to teach the subject effectively and improve student motivation and attainment. This, in turn, will increase take-up of physics at GCSE, A level and beyond.

Facilitator Name: Edmund Walsh

Course Code: RN358 / C01

Session Date:
Teign School - 22nd June 2023: 09:30 - 17:00

The Gatsby Good Practical Science report is the starting point for this course as schools return to embedding hands-on practical science into their curriculum delivery.

You will develop tools and strategies to ensure that practical work that you incorporate into your teaching / curriculum is purposeful and builds on prior learning. You will also consider the importance of apparatus and techniques and working scientifically and you will reflect on your coverage of these areas in your own curriculum.

You will look at some required practicals and plan progression through the curriculum from the perspective of both substantive and disciplinary knowledge that is required to be developed for the practical to be completed successfully. There will also be consideration of the demands of some practical activities and strategies that can be introduced to reduce the cognitive load of the task.

Finally you will consider the facilities and technical support that is required for effective practical science. You will reflect on your own setting and share ideas and good practice about issues you may have with lab space and facilities.

The course is suitable for early career and established teachers as well as subject leaders. There will be some differentiation of tasks during the course depending upon your role.