This online course is designed specifically for Science Subject Leaders and will support you in developing both your subject knowledge and your understanding of effective subject leadership.
The course will explore the discipline of science in depth, helping leaders understand how pupils develop scientific knowledge, understanding and skills over time. We will consider how science provides the foundations for understanding the world and examine the key knowledge, methods and uses of science that pupils should encounter throughout primary school.
Alongside this, we will consider the role of the science leader in securing high-quality teaching, supporting colleagues, championing the subject across the school and ensuring all pupils can access a rich and ambitious science education. Drawing on the latest evidence, including the EEF’s guidance on effective implementation and leadership, we will explore practical approaches that science leaders can use to support improvement within their schools.
The course will examine how curriculum content can develop pupils’ curiosity about the natural world while building secure scientific knowledge over time. We will explore the relationship between substantive knowledge and working scientifically, considering how scientific enquiry, observation, reasoning and explanation can be purposefully embedded within the curriculum. We will also reflect on how science has shaped the modern world and the role it will continue to play in addressing future challenges and opportunities.
The session will provide updates on national developments, including the implications of the new National Curriculum once the draft proposals are published for consultation. We will explore what the changes may mean for science leaders, how schools can begin preparing, and how PKC will support schools through the process.
We will consider questions such as:
- What does effective subject leadership in science look like, and how can leaders evaluate and improve the quality of science education across their school?
- What makes a high-quality, knowledge-rich science curriculum, and how can subject leaders ensure pupils develop secure scientific knowledge and understanding over time?
- How can we ensure pupils make strong progress in science, building, retaining and applying knowledge from lesson to lesson, unit to unit and year to year?
- What does high-quality teaching and assessment in science look like, and how can subject leaders support teachers to strengthen classroom practice?
- How can we embed working scientifically in a meaningful way, ensuring practical enquiry develops and applies pupils’ scientific knowledge?
- How can we ensure science is ambitious, inclusive and accessible for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND?
This course provides an excellent opportunity for science subject leaders to deepen their expertise, learn practical approaches to leading improvement in science, network with colleagues from other PKC schools, and stay informed about the latest developments affecting the subject.
The session will be recorded, and videos will be made available for participants.