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Want to further develop skills as a Science subject leader?

Science Experiment
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Subject leaders should be engaged in developing an understanding of best practice in their subject. There are some aspects of good practice that every subject shares, however, there are important distinctions between each that must be considered.

Here are three reasons to attend the Science Subject Leaders meetings.

1. To develop concepts, knowledge and skills

Within every subject there are concepts, knowledge, and skills. Subject leaders must know what these look like in every year group for their subject. In addition, they need to be able to help teachers in the school articulate how they work together, which ones should be taught first and how these three aspects of the subject fit together pedagogically.

2. To develop methods of mapping out progression

Once the concepts, knowledge and skills of the subject have been understood by a subject leader, it is important to then map this out into a clear progression of knowledge and skills. There are several ways that this can be done. It is not the document itself that is important, but the understanding that teachers have.

Some schools use knowledge organisers, others use progression maps. Regardless of how this is carried out, it is important that the subject leaders have ensured that their curriculum progression has progressive knowledge skills and vocabulary that are built on from Reception to Year 6.

3. To share information, experiences, and good practice 

The Association of Science Education has produced plan materials that outline the progression and also contain exemplification for each scientific unit. This resource is free for all Southwark Maintained Schools Primary Science Assessment (PLAN) | www.ase.org.uk

If you want to find out more about our Science support, including how to use the PLAN materials, please sign up your science subject leader to our CPD session.