I have received the information below and thought you might find it useful when considering your position regarding this years science SATs. My initial responses from Kent schools indicate that the marking is mostly OK and that the mark scheme has been quite tightly applied. We have a range of "ups and downs" reported so far. No pattern determined yet, I will e-mail out to schools if I find one!
Here is the information from "above"
"We are getting a number of reports from you (consultants) that you are finding some anomalies in schools KS3 science results where there are large drops or increases in results. If schools (and you) are still in session and you have the time, it would be good to look at the quality of marking against the marking scheme. Where this is in doubt due to the quality of marking, schools should give appeals serious consideration in the best interests of children. Obviously there are cost implications for schools on this so it is a school’s choice whether they do this or not.
We do have evidence that in some schools have carried out an analysis of the marking and have sent whole cohorts of papers for appeal. "
This years STs are further evidence of the increasing importance of Sc. 1 (How Science Works) and we envisage further increases as the new PoS for KS3 becomes examinable.
This zip file contains exemplification of the new PoS for KS3. This will be added to the Framework web site over the summer. This is NOT statutory content, more a selection of ideas you might like to include. Some files are word documents which open properly. Those beginning ._ are code files and open to reveal rubbish! I wanted to get these out quickly so I haven't edited this.
Enjoy!!
I have received some information about resources for astronomy teaching from David Mannion (Maidstone GS). He writes:-
These two sheets might be of interest to Heads of Science in Kent schools who want to teach part of the Science national curriculum - the astronomy bits! We have in the RAS www.ras.org.uk come up with about 84 websites and four RAS web resources for teaching
astronomy Ks2 Ks 3 Ks 4 and Ks 5.
There are 2 files zipped in the attachment. Rules for opening as before. (Click on title of the page, attachments then show in the new page that opens)
Attached is a copy of the latest OFSTED report on science. There are some interesting observations here!
Click on the title of this page to show the page where the attached file can be downloaded.
Follow this link to get to the on-line questionnaire. I will send schools all their data and a county wide analysis after the closing date of 2.7.08
www.kenttrustweb.org.uk?sciencesurvey
Please find attached the 2008 spreadsheet for carrying out a GAP analysis on your 2008 scripts. If you are able to do this on the recently examined cohort, you'll get some ideas of where you might need to intervene in KS4. The spreadsheet contains simple instructions for use.
The popular four day RSC Chemistry for non-specialists at KS4 course is being run at Highsted Grammar School, Sittingbourne starting on 16th July 2008. This course is aimed at teachers of KS4 Chemistry who hold a specialism in a subject other than Chemistry. The course consists of a 2 day residential this term followed by one day in the autumn term & one day in the spring 2009 term. The cost of this four day course for maintained & independent schools is £120 per person. Teachers from maintained schools are eligible to apply for an IMPACT AWARD worth £200 per day. This will cover the cost of the course fee & the majority of supply cover fees.
Full course details are available on .
http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=8&module=186FE959-923A-4f95-B0A4-F921968601CA&mode=101&runid186FE959_923A_4f95_B0A4_F921968601CA=17505&cid186FE959_923A_4f95_B0A4_F921968601CA=7563
If you have any queries or would like to book a place by phone, please contact the Centre on 02380 598810.Regards Suzy Gray Marketing OfficerScience Learning Centre South EastUniversity of Southampton
All schools need a letter of authorisation to hold and use radioactive sources. Attached to this blog is the form needed [ IR(c) ] to get such a letter.
To get to the download, press on the title of this blog entry. The new page will have the file for download now showing.
Please find attached form 1 from CLEAPSS. This is the form you need to tell us what radioactive sources your school holds. We need an up to date set of information. However, if nothing has changed since you last sent us this information, we do not need a new one.
To get to the download, press on the title of this blog entry. The new page will have the file for download now showing.
Attched to this entry is the powerpoint from Karen Collins from Fulston Manor. It shows the planning processes that those writing units for the new ASE KS3 course have gone through. Same instructions as post 2 below.
Here is the second powerpoint from Nigel's session. Same instructions as post below.
As promised at the subect leader days, here are the resources we used. This entry has the Powerpoint from session 1 (Pat) attached. Click on heading to open up entry and attachment will be seen. This file is "zipped"
I have just received the following information which you might find useful. Why not sign up and have a look. No catches and there's even some free software!!
Stemit’s new website can provide science teachers with a well-resourced, diverse and relevant bank of Science materials. Resources are being added to daily. We are also offering Free Autodesk Software for teachers and students.
Devised by teachers, for teachers this exciting new site is FREE to access and can save science teachers precious time and energy, so with nothing to lose, why don’t you click on to www.stemit.org.uk
to see for yourself.
I have just heard of the site (link below) devised by Vinny Stocker at Highworth GGS. He is
happy for it to be shared – after all, that’s why he built it! It’s currently used by pupils all over the world, which is quite cool. Vinny's personal email is:- vinnystocker@hotmail.com if anyone want’s to ask about MOODLE (the platform on which it is built). Take a look, and if you can suggest other info why not e-mail Vinny?
http://www.reviseguys.com/moodle/index.php
The new framework for science with the planning tool have now been published on the web. There will not be paper copies so you'll have to visit the site and read the explanatory information. The hyperlink below will take you to the site.
http://www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/secondary/framework/
I have also received news of an ASE scheme that is currently being written and trialled to support the new KS3 PoS. I haven't seen this, but one would expect it to be good. What it hopes to achieve is certainly positive. You could even sign up to be a trial school and get in at ground level. One important feature is that it will be WIKI based, so that it will be an organic developing scheme. Read more by downloading the attached file. (Click on heading and the attachment then shows in the new window that opens.) If you are a KS3 co-ordinator or just want to be included in e-mails I send out to HoD and others, please e-mail me and I'll make a circulation list for all in Kent. Please do not assume I have your details unless you are a HoD. Please send name, school, e-mail address, role in school. Send to keith.milchem@kent.gov.uk
We have had to change the date of our training conference on Improving rates of progression to level 6 and above. The date clashes with National Training on the L6 project and some new materials are being launched. Consequently, we have moved the date to Monday 30th June. All other details on the attached flier are correct. With the government emphasis on improved rates of progression this course provides materials and a methodology which has proven to be successful already in Kent schools. We hope that all schools not involved in the original 20 schools will want to become involved. Contact and booking details are at the end of the flier for this course below. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. Any one signed onto the old date will be transferred to the new date automatically.
You might be interested in registering for this event in London. It is designed to highlight science careers and further education opportunities in science. It's free and looks quite interesting. We may send a representative from our service and will feedback via this blog any pertinent information.
Please find attached the application form for the blog item below. To get to it, click on the heading to this post and then find the attachment on the new page that opens.
Attached you'l find a course flier (zipped file) for an event to be held at Pfizer on July 8th. This is a free enrichment day for Y8 pupils. It is hoped that about 20 schools will identify 8 Y8 students to attend the day. Further details will emerge nearer the date but early registration of interest should take place. Allocation will be on a first come first served basis. The event is to encourage students in Aim Higher schools, but others can attend. Details of how to book are in the attached booking form (see separate post above). If schools further from Sandwich want to attend, it is possible we can organise a "pick up" coach and charge per student. If you register for the course and want to see if this is possible, please contact me (keith.milchem@kent.gov.uk) and we'll see what we can sort out. The £30 booking fee is fully refundable if you attend. It is to try to ensure they don't get last minute withdrawals. All bookings need to go via the people detailed on the booking form.
I have also received details from the Kent branch of the RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) of their wish to support school chemistry. Their message reads:
The Kent section of the RSC would like to know whether teachers in Kent are interested in establishing contact with RSC volunteers who are trained scientists with special knowledge of Chemistry. If you would like to make contact with a professional chemist - who may be able to advise on such matters as science in context, applied learning and the employment of scientists, then please inform your Science Adviser so that the need can be assessed and arrangements made.
Please e-mail me to express initial interest (keith.milchem@kent.gov.uk) in having RSC support.
The meeting for 24th April was postponed due to NUT action. The new date is 20th May at 2.00 p.m. If you are following this specification or thinking of using it, please feel free to attend. Please e-mail hma@westlands.kent.sch.uk to let the school know you will be attending.
This file contains a summary of the pro's and con's that delegates thought were appropriate when asked to plan a new scheme of work starting from different viewpoints. For example, planning a scheme of work using "How science works" as the spine on to which the range and content were then mapped. These may be useful for departments planning the approach they wish to take for their new SoW.
This is the list of opportunities afforded to schools by having a new PoS to develop.
Please find attached to this and entries above, the print outs from the flip charts that delegates produced.
This attachment lists the attributes and skills one might expect from a successful students after KS3
Please find attached the recently e-mailed HoS newsletter.
Westlands school have arranged for John Beeby, Chief moderator OCR Applied Science Double award to run a workshop on 3rd April.
Times are yet to be confirmed by Beth at the school. There will be NO CHARGE for this training.
If any one is interested in going they need to e mail Beth at Westlands.
bch@Westlands.kent.sch.uk
See blog post below.
This is the information sheet explaining how to use the spreadsheet. Please note the spreadsheet is "tabbed" at the bottom to cover the range and content and HSW.
The attached file (and the additional post) can be used to audit and cross reference your scheme of work (current) to the new programme of study. This will highlight areas missed out and those covered well.
This file is the spreadsheet.
Please find attached notes made from an AQA GCSE specification cluster support meeting held at the Judd School. Those doing AQA will find this information interesting.
Thanks to Aynsley Cowie (AST) for organising and hosting the event.
The Subject Leader training for the new KS3 takes place on Feb 26th (Hall Place, Canterbury) and Feb 27th (Russell Hotel, Maidstone). Places still available. This will look at oversight and planning for the new KS3 curriculum. Resources to support will be explained.
Science Conference (Mar 4th) has been cancelled I'm sorry to say. We did not have sufficient numbers to organise this by the time the published cut off date arrived. We will try again next year and try to have it at a time which does not clash with other training.
KS3 training for KS3 Co-ordinators (and similar responsibilities) has been so popular we have put on a second date. These are 19th March - Holiday Inn Ashford and 27th Mar Hilton Maidstone. Place are getting limited on these as well.
Future dates: The summer term Subject Leader days will be 4th (Canterbury), 5th (Maidstone) and 6th (Dartford) June. We envisage these will have details of the new science Framework which will support planning and progression in the new KS3 PoS. There should also be some more information on the new Assessing Progress in science materials. We will also explain some G & T materials coming from the startegy. (If you'd like these in advance please contact Keith Milchem ( keith.milchem@kent.gov.uk )
To book any courses or to get further information, please call Debbie Kirkland on 01732 876620.
Please find attached some information from the RSPCA. They will visit schools free and run a variety of tailored sessions. Some more information and contact details can be found in the attachement.
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