What began as formative assessment, now also known as assessment for learning (AfL), is a set of ideas and practices that has--for an educational innovation--an unusually good research pedigree. In the past decade, these ideas and practices have been incorporated into national education policies in all four countries of the UK, although with…

This article features the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Leadership Qualification programme, developed by the Centre for Science Education (CSE) at Sheffield Hallam University in collaboration with Edexcel, which sets out to develop leadership skills and capabilities through contexts in STEM. With six units to complete…

This article reports the main findings from a Review commissioned by the Wellcome Trust into science in primary schools. On the basis of those findings, it is argued that the current approach to primary science and the drive to raise standards in literacy and numeracy are turning pupils off science in primary schools, the fallout of which can be…

In this article, the author shares UK students' experience in a ten-day trip to the Gambia. During the trip, three schools were visited and students taught their lessons in pairs, each pair delivering two 20-minute lessons. Topics covered were chosen beforehand to relate to the Gambian curriculum and the equipment used was selected on a local…

This article features the BLOODHOUND Project which aims to break the world land speed record by achieving 1,000mph. It is an iconic adventure that will push technology to its limit. BLOODHOUND SSC provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. It is an important educational project that is…

In this article, the author shares her view about her ASE membership and what it says about her. What she hopes her ASE membership says about her is that she is committed to her own professional development and the professional development of others; she values the opportunity to engage with the wider perspective, to take on responsibilities or…

The first part of "Assessment for Learning" ("EiS", February 2009) summarised some of the research that led to the recognition of the benefit to be had from formative assessment. As noted there, hardly any of the studies had been carried out in normal classrooms, leaving questions over how to translate the general strategies identified in the…

This article discusses how Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP) can be turned into more of a tool for formative assessment. It describes an approach called "APPREND" as a set of APP-based tools for formative assessment. The author provides a glimpse of how APPREND tools can help. (Contains 2 tables.)

There is a worldwide recognition that one's future health and prosperity will depend on there being a well-educated workforce who can offer a broad range of technical and analytic skills. Many of these important skills are developed through science education. The Careers from Science message is that a scientific background is essential for a wide…

Teachers and employers realise that work experience should be more than just photocopying, answering phones, making the tea, and shadowing office-based staff to "learn about the world of work". The challenge is to ensure the experience is engaging for the student, and worthwhile. The British Science Association has been piloting ways to add value…

Is the sound of pupils talking in class an indication of disengagement and a cue for teacher intervention or an indication of active learning? According to Jennifer Richmond, second in science at Falinge Park High School in Rochdale and a lead teacher with Rochdale Local Authority, "pupils talking in groups can develop language skills; it's…

The author talks about the Association for Science Education (ASE) Primary Science Committee's (PSC) March 2009 meeting which was held in Belfast as guests of ASE Northern Ireland. To mark the auspicious occasion of a body that usually meets four times a year in the Hatfield HQ crossing the Irish Sea to be hosted by its Celtic cousins, a Lord…

QCA specified that science should include "How Science Works" at Key Stage 4 (age 14-16) from 2006. Since then, different "versions" have been specified for inclusion from primary through to A-Level (Orrow-Whiting et al, 2007). HSW seems to act as an umbrella term for part of the curriculum that "focuses on the evidence to support or refute…

This article discusses the revised Northern Ireland Curriculum which will be fully implemented across all key stages by June 2010. The revision gives schools greater flexibility with statements of minimum entitlement for subject strands replacing detailed subject programmes of study. Teachers are encouraged to promote a cross-curricular approach…

For anyone who has wondered about how creativity looks in practice, this article offers a picture of how creativity can be a powerful force in the classroom. The author provides three examples illustrating some alternatives that he has developed that work with pupils and teachers in many countries all over the world. The magic bucket activity…