The teaching of science in secondary schools in Plymouth has been boosted by a hugely successful programme involving STEM Learning and the South West Teaching Schools Council.
This programme - utilising STEM Learning’s local Science Learning Partnership – aimed to close the attainment gap in science using bespoke professional development and one-to-one mentoring for local teachers, strategies to support recall and understanding for students and more.
Feedback from teachers and technicians was excellent - and it’s now hoped that a similar model can be adopted more widely across the south west and beyond.
The programme is part of the Plymouth Commission, a school improvement initiative involving all 19 secondary schools across the city. The support was focused on improving pedagogical skills of science teachers, supporting science technicians (with particular emphasis on health and safety) and developing science leadership. The programme was devised and led by Heidi Foxford, regional STEM network lead, with delivery support and coordination provided by Chrysta Garnett, Teaching Schools Council South West strategy lead.
Tony Bloxham, Plymouth Commission lead, said: “The support that the partnership with STEM Learning has provided for science departments in Plymouth has been exemplary. It is a superb example of a place-based approach delivered in partnership with an already established partner, the Teaching Schools Council.
“Central to the success of this work has been a precise needs analysis and a corresponding support package that was aligned to need. It is no surprise therefore that engagement levels have been very high, essentially because the support provided was relevant to departmental improvement. In this respect the science leads owned the agenda for improvement. Great work!"
The scheme also featured network meetings and one to one mentoring from STEM Learning. In total, 271 teachers from across 17 schools benefitted.
All science leaders involved reported that the CPD would have a ‘medium or high’ impact on teachers in their science departments. Teachers described the programme as ‘easy to implement in lessons’, ‘very good quality’ and ‘excellent’.
With the schools coming from 12 different trusts, collaboration was a challenge. Prior to this partnership, engagement of Plymouth secondary schools with the local Science Learning Partnership had been low.
The success of this model of working has provided a blueprint for other curriculum hubs - such as Computing, Maths and English - to deliver CPD as part of the Plymouth Commission.
The model is also being used to develop a package of science support to Plymouth primary schools in the summer term. It is hoped that a similar collaborative model can be used with other groups of schools in the region and beyond to address the attainment gap which has been widened by recent school closures.
Kieran Cooke, national network manager at STEM Learning, said: "It is through impactful collaborations with partners such as South West Teaching School Council that we are going to provide a world-leading STEM education for all young people. The combination of the Teaching School Council’s deep insights and credibility and STEM Learning’s expertise in providing high quality, subject specific professional development resulted in this programme having a significant impact on the ongoing development of science departments across Plymouth.
"We look forward to building upon this collaboration across the South West and beyond, supporting many more schools and teachers in enabling all young people to achieve their potential."