If you’re starting out as a Primary Science Lead, or you’ve been doing the job for a while, then you can appreciate what a big job it can be. Thankfully, many organisations provide support and resources to make the job easier.

Advice for Subject Leaders

1. Establish a Clear Baseline

Effective leadership is evidence-based. Before implementing changes, conduct a robust audit of the current state of Science within your setting.

• Curriculum Mapping: Ensure that the transition from Early Years (Understanding the World) through to Key Stage 2 shows clear vertical progression. There should be no unnecessary repetition, and concepts should build in complexity year-on-year.
• Staff Confidence Surveys: Use a formal survey to identify gaps in teacher subject knowledge. Many primary practitioners feel less confident in physics-heavy topics (e.g., electricity or forces); identifying this early allows you to target your support.

2. Prioritizing Disciplinary Knowledge

A common pitfall in primary science is over-emphasizing substantive knowledge (facts) at the expense of disciplinary knowledge (the skills of working scientifically).

• The Five Enquiry Types: Ensure that “Working Scientifically” is not treated as a standalone unit. It must be woven into every topic. Monitor whether students are being exposed to the full breadth of enquiry, including pattern seeking and observation over time, rather than relying solely on “fair testing.”
• Vocabulary Development: Technical accuracy is paramount. Explicitly map the Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary required for each year group to ensure children can articulate their findings with precision.

3. Resource Management and Accountability

Science requires physical infrastructure. If the tools are inaccessible or broken, the curriculum becomes theoretical rather than practical.

• Strategic Resourcing: Audit your equipment against the curriculum. If Year 4 is teaching ‘States of Matter,’ do they have the specific thermometers and data loggers required?
• Budgeting: Move away from reactive spending. Develop a three-year plan for high-cost items (such as digital microscopes) to ensure sustainable improvement.

4. Monitoring and Impact

To satisfy internal and external inspections, you must be able to demonstrate the impact of your leadership.

• Triangulation of Evidence: Do not rely on books alone. Combine book looks with Pupil Voice interviews and Learning Walks. Ask students to explain the scientific concepts behind their practical work; their ability to do so is the true measure of a successful curriculum.
• Assessment Frameworks: Implement a consistent, low-stakes assessment strategy—such as retrieval practice or concept cartoons—to track progress without increasing teacher workload.

Useful Links for Science Subject Leads

Here’s a list of useful resources that you should know about. Bookmark them for when you need them

Subject Leader Support Materials

• PSTT Subject Leader Support: https://pstt.org.uk/support/support-for-science-leadership/
• Explorify Subject Leader Toolkit: https://explorify.uk/teacher-support/toolkit
• ASE Primary Science Leader’s Survival Guide: Https://www.ase.org.uk/primary-science-leaders-survival-guide (members only)
• PLAN Subject Leaders Resources: https://www.planassessment.com/science-subject-leader
• Wellcome Trust Great Science Leadership: https://wellcome.org/sites/default/files/great-science-subject-leadership-wellcome.pdf
• Preparing for an Ofsted Deep Dive: https://www.sciencefix.co.uk/2020/02/preparing-for-an-ofsted-deep-dive-in-primary-science/
• Primary Science Quality Mark: http://www.psqm.org.uk/what-is-psqm
• Science for Life Science Leads Starting Points: https://sites.google.com/view/scienceforlife/resources/starting-point-for-science-leads
• Primary Science Coordinators Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373661309665206
  

Developing Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy

• How to Teach Primary Science CPD: Online CPD Course of video lectures for Primary Science Teachers
• Science Fix Book: Support for Primary Science Teachers: https://amzn.to/3RnHnqi
• Reach Out CPD. Free online CPD course: https://www.reachoutcpd.com/
• STEM Learning provide courses online and face-to-face: https://www.stem.org.uk/cpd
• PLAN Knowledge Matrices: https://www.planassessment.com/product-page/knowledge-matrices-y1-6
• Institute of Physics Spark CPD videos: https://spark.iop.org
• TES Teacher’s TV archive: https://www.tes.com/resources/search/?authorId=447531

Science Curriculum Support

• Ogden Trust Physics Support: https://www.ogdentrust.com/resources/
• Science and Plants for Schools: https://www.saps.org.uk/
• Royal Society of Chemistry Primary Science: https://edu.rsc.org/primary-science
• IOP Common Physics Misconceptions: https://spark.iop.org/misconceptions rsc
• CIEC Primary Resources: https://www.york.ac.uk/ciec/resources/primary/
• Linnean Society: https://www.linnean.org/learning/primary
• The Royal Society: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/education-skills/teacher-resources-and-opportunities/resources-for-teachers/
• Common Science Misconceptions: https://pstt.org.uk/resources/common-misconceptions/
• Big Ideas in Primary Science: https://www.ase.org.uk/bigideas
• STEM Subject Resources: https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources/collections/science

Working Scientifically

• CIEC Working Scientifically: https://www.york.ac.uk/ciec/resources/primary/skills-for-science/#working-scientifically
• PSTT Science Enquiry Skills: https://pstt.org.uk/resources/enquiry-skills/
• PSTT Science Types of Enquiry: https://pstt.org.uk/resources/enquiry-approaches/
• Enquiring Science for All: https://www.seerih.manchester.ac.uk/teachers/resources/enquiring-science-4-all/
• CLEAPPS Health and Safety Guidance: https://primary.cleapss.org.uk/

Assessing Science

• PLAN Assessment: https://www.planassessment.com
• ASE Plan resources: https://www.ase.org.uk/primary-science-assessment-plan
• PSTT Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) resources: https://pstt.org.uk/unique-resources/taps/

Science Across the Curriculum

• Sustainable Topic Webs: https://edu.rsc.org/primary-science/sustainability-contexts-for-primary-science/4014614.article
• Practical Action: https://practicalaction.org/schools/
• STEM Learning Science Webs: https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/63252/cross-curricular-science-ideas-webs
• Teaching Science Through Stories: https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources/collections/science/science-through-stories

Science Research

• OFSTED Report Finding the Optimum 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/subject-report-series-science/finding-the-optimum-the-science-subject-report–2
• OFSTED Research Review 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-review-series-science
• Response to the Finding the Optimum Report: https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=67357
• Wellcome State of Primary Teaching: https://wellcome.org/reports/state-nation-report-uk-primary-science-education
• Lynne Bianchi 10 Key Issues with Children’s Learning in Primary Science: https://www.scienceacrossthecity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3634_Childrens_Learning_in_Primary_Science_Report_2020_v8.pdf
• Science Capital Teaching Approach: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/departments-and-centres/departments/education-practice-and-society/stem-participation-social-justice-research/primary-science-capital-project
• Journal of Emergent Science: https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/journal-of-emergent-science
• BEST evidence Science Teaching: https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources/collections/science/best-evidence-science-teaching

More Links

I’ve put together a Wakelet of Links here: https://wakelet.com/wake/Gy5gGrYSiCUVmb3OxJlzD

And I’ve also put together a larger Wakelet collection of science resources, which can be found here: https://wakelet.com/@SCITT_Science_Resources_Primary4236

For a comprehensive CPD Course on teaching primary science, visit my Udemy course here.

And if you, your school, or local cluster of schools needs any Science CPD then please get in touch.