Leading primary science can be rewarding but challenging. Many science leads are balancing subject leadership alongside a full teaching timetable, often without specialist training or dedicated time.
I work with primary science leads across Essex and the South East to help them develop confidence in leading science, improving teaching and supporting colleagues in a practical and manageable way.
Support can include:
- Subject leader development sessions
- Whole-staff science training
- Curriculum and progression support
- Ongoing science leader networks
Contact me for more information about the CPD I can offer.
Is this you?
You may be:
- New to the science lead role
- Balancing leadership alongside full-time teaching
- Unsure where to prioritise improvements
- Supporting non-specialist colleagues
- Preparing for monitoring or inspection
- Trying to raise the profile of science across the school
How I Support Science Leads
I work with schools in a range of ways depending on need:
- Subject leader development sessions
- Whole-staff science training
- Curriculum and progression support
- Monitoring and assessment guidance
- Support preparing for Ofsted deep dives
- Ongoing science leader networks
Typical Reasons Schools Book Support
Schools often get in touch when:
- A new science lead has taken on the role
- Science is a school development priority
- Staff confidence needs strengthening
- Leaders want clearer progression between year groups
- Preparing for inspection or subject review
Increasingly, science leads are also asking about the safe use of AI to support planning and reduce workload. This can be incorporated into science CPD where appropriate.
Formats of Support
Support can be delivered as:
- INSET day or staff meeting training
- After-school sessions
- Half-day or full-day consultancy
- Ongoing support across the academic year
- Cluster or network sessions for science leads
Online CPD
For a comprehensive, self-paced Online CPD Course on teaching primary science, visit my Udemy course here.
If you would like to discuss support for your science lead or science CPD for your school, please get in touch to check availability.
Useful resources for Science Leads
Here’s a list of useful resources that you should know about. Bookmark them for when you need them. More links can be found here.
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/
