Jun 30, 2015
Triple ScienceSuccessful Delivery and Support
Karen Perry Kendrick School, ReadingJohn Walker Science Learning CentresRoz Sands Science Learning Centres
January 2013Triple Science
Objectives
• to explore some of the advantages for young people studying triple science
• to identify any challenges which schools may face in delivering triple science
• to provide information about the triple science support programme and how it supports schools
• to provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions
Potential benefits of Triple Science
School benefits
Student benefits
UK benefits
Teacher benefits
Making the case for Triple Science
Triple Science January 2013
Why offer triple science?
• Increased student interest and engagement with Science – in course, general life and beyond GCSE.
• Improved application skills – aids problem solving skills in other subjects and general life.
• Increased confidence and practical skills.• Aids transition to A level sciences and University.• Increased numbers of students studying science post 16
and at University.• Access to more interesting topics, leading to extra
curricular activities, e.g. primary school teaching, chicken club, gardening club, café scientifique.
• Specialist teachers enhance learning and interest.
•
Subject Canada France Germany Italy Japan UK US
Chemistry 4th 6th 3rd 5th 7th 2nd 1st
Clinical medicine
1st 6th 5th 4th 7th 3rd 2nd
Engineering 5th 3rd 2nd 6th 7th 3rd 1st
Mathematics 6th 2nd 4th 5th 7th 3rd 1st
Molecular biology
5th 4th 3rd 6th 7th 1st 2nd
Physics 4th 5th 3rd 6th 7th 2nd 1st
Plant/ animal sciences
5th 3rd 2nd 7th 6th 1st 4th
Average rank 4.00 4.45 3.45 5.75 6.70 1.85 1.75
How the G7 nations compare in research performance (rank position) 2005 - 2009
Source: Thomson Reuters/ THE 10 June 2010(Slide courtesy of Professor Sir John Holman)
UK benefits
Making the case for Triple Science
CBI Education & Skills Survey 2010(Slide courtesy of Sir John Holman)
Student benefits
Making the case for Triple Science
CBI Education & Skills Survey 2010
(Slide courtesy of Sir John Holman)
Student benefits
Making the case for Triple Science
Teacher benefits
• Teachers more engaged/enthused in their own specialist subject.
• More scope to concentrate on improved pedagogy, rather than teacher knowledge.
‘Above all, the top performing systems demonstrate that the quality of an education system depends ultimately on the quality of its teachers’
from “How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top”
McKinsey, September 2007
http://mckinseyonsociety.com/downloads/reports/Education/Worlds_School_Systems_Final.pdf
Making the case for Triple Science
Teacher benefits
Better pupil outcomes when science teachers’ specialism matches what they are teaching (Ofsted)
Matc
h o
f te
ach
ers
to the
curr
iculu
m
Achievement (percentage of secondary schools 2004/05)
4
10
45
26
34
55
47
13
48
32
8
57
14
4
4
1
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Unsatisfactory/poor(23 schools)
Satisfactory(96 schools)
Good(209 schools)
Excellent/very good(154 schools)
Excellent/very good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory/poor
(Slide courtesy of Sir John Holman)
Teacher benefits
Making the case for Triple Science
January 2013Triple Science
Triple Science Support ProgrammeThe programme provides two levels of support;1) Intensive support for schools looking to introduce or
expand the delivery of triple science2) Basic support for all schools wanting support with triple
science
Targeted Support Support for All
Adviser visit – audit and action plan CPD (not funded)
CPD Online communities
Consultancy support Resources
Peer support Networks
Online communities
Resources
Networks
January 2013Triple Science
Triple Science - Challenges
What kinds of challenges are schools facing with introducing or extending triple science?
January 2013Triple Science
Challenges cont....
Curriculum planning
Curriculum planning
Lack of specialist teachers
Lack of specialist teachers
Modular to linear
Modular to linear
Not enough students for a viable cohort
Not enough students for a viable cohort
Lack of confidence in teaching
extension units
Lack of confidence in teaching
extension unitsLack of pupil interest or motivation
Lack of pupil interest or motivation
Lack of equipmentLack of equipment
Triple Science January 2013
Networks: Programme Aims
• Engage schools that do not offer Triple Science and schools where take-up is very low
• Encourage take-up of Triple Science for the broadest range of pupils, including those eligible for free school meals and those not currently in the highest ability groups.
• Encourage pupils’ take-up of science at post-16 and university.
Triple Science January 2013
Networks
Reading and Wokingham Triple Science Network• 2 previous Networks lead by Kate Donegan• First focussed on Cognitive Conflict.• Second on Literacy demands of new GCSE.• Both involved some training/workshops that led to
teachers trialling resources to help students to develop these skills.
• All resources were evaluated and shared.• Current Network led by Karen Perry and Sara Capaldi.
Triple Science January 2013
Networks: Impact
• Support available for schools to introduce and stain effective triple Science provision.
• Take-up of Triple Science for the broadest range of pupils, including those eligible for free school meals and those not currently in the highest ability groups increased.
• Take-up of science at post-16 and university increased.• Staff in network schools liaising with each other and
sharing good practice.• Student learning and engagement enhanced.
Triple Science January 2013
Networks: Impact
• Increased confidence/skills of teachers and students in Key Stage 3->A Level, especially those not in currently in the highest ability groups
• Student learning and engagement enhanced• Resources developed within network shared• Network practical apparatus resource box available to be
lent to all schools in the Network
Triple Science January 2013
Thank you!
For more information on Triple Science please visit
www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/triplescience
This presentation is an adaption from one done at the Association for Science
Education conference in January 2013.