First quality mark for science in Primary Schools

The Primary Science Quality Mark which has been developed by the SLC EE, in conjunction with the Association for Science Education and Barnet Local Authority and funded by the Wellcome Trust, offers schools the opportunity and framework to develop and celebrate a school-wide commitment to excellent science teaching and learning. There are now plans to roll this scheme out nationally.

Professor John Holman, Director National Science Learning Centre and Derek Bell, Director of Education at the Wellcome Trust, will present certificates to the schools at a ceremony at 6.30pm on 15 January 2009 at the SLC EE, University of Hertfordshire, Bayfordbury.

The ceremony is a culmination of an innovative project across the East of England to raise the profile and quality of science in primary schools.

“This is sorely needed,” said Jane Turner, Deputy Director, SLC EE. “Up to now there has been no existing quality mark for science in primary schools. There is now demand from schools and local authorities across the UK and internationally to roll the Primary Science Quality Mark Award Scheme out nationally.”

The twelve schools involved in the Scheme are:

Bowman’sgreen Junior School, London Colney;
St Anne’s Church of England Primary School, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire;
Deansbrook Infant School, Mill Hill;
Edgeware Junior School, Edgeware;
Fairways Primary School, Mill Hill;
Grange Junior School, Letchworth;
Halifax Primary School, Ipswich;
Histon and Impington Junior School, Cambridge;
Holmwood House Preparatory School, Colchester;
Skyswood Primary School, St Albans;
Wilshere Daycare Junior School, Hitchin;
Cavalry Primary School, March, Cambridgeshire
The Primary Science Quality Mark offers schools the opportunity and framework to develop and celebrate a school wide commitment to excellent science teaching and learning.

•To raise the profile of science in primary schools

•To celebrate a commitment to excellence in science in primary schools

•To provide a framework for measuring, planning and developing the quality of science teaching and learning in primary schools

•To encourage primary schools to increase the range and quality of teaching and learning in science

•To recognise, promote and spread good practice in science teaching and learning

•To enable primary schools to maintain science’s core position as they move to more coherent, creative and cross-curricula teaching and learning structures

•To highlight the need for continuing professional development opportunities in science

•To increase science subject organisation primary school membership

•To motivate schools to work with STEM partners to enhance science provision To stimulate in pupils and the wider school community, a long term interest and engagement with science