Session 2: Planning for Action

GOLD AWARD The subject leader ensures that excellent practice is visible, sustained and evolving across the whole school. This excellent practice has a clear impact on partners beyond the school. SILVER AWARD The subject leader is having an increasing impact across the school, where science has a high profile. Many excellent practices are developed and implemented. Some links with partners outside the school are being established. BRONZE AWARD The subject leader is beginning to have an impact beyond his/her own class and the profile of science is growing across the school. Some excellent practices are being developed and implemented. PSQM SILVER PSQM GOLD PSQM Bronze PSQM progression

Core Documents 1.PSQM action plan 2.Principles of teaching science in your school- “We know that good when…” 2.Log of science subject leader 4.List of CPD activities of subject leader & other members of staff and their impact 5.School Development Plan: sections that have relevance to science 6.Portfolio to illustrate science in your school to support reflections of impact: Bronze Award-from your own class Silver Award-from several other classes (3 classes suggested) Gold Award- from your school (5 classes suggested) and the wider community 7.Calendar of science events in school (assemblies, outings, science days and weeks, visits, visiting speakers, activity days)

Core Documents Principles A single page word document is sufficient, containing just the principles produced within school. Some schools compile a complementary set with pupils and include these on the same sheet. Some schools create a poster version for display.

Core Documents School Development Plan (SDP) We only require sections from this document that are relevant to Science. You can cut and paste them into a Word document. If science is not currently in the SDP then consider adding into reflection thoughts as to what you would like to be in the next SDP. Question: how has this document helped in creating your action plan?

Core Documents Subject Leader Log (You) This works well as a two or three column table in Word, containing date, task/activity and a brief (one sentence) focus on impact. This log is about and what you do as subject leader, including leading your team if you have one.

24 th October Wrote a blog for the school website and the Clarion Newsletter to communicate with parents Parents approached me to say they would be interested in helping out at forthcoming events 7 th November Pupil Voice, Teacher voice and from the helper regarding Science Week Pupils stated the areas that they enjoyed and the areas that they would like to improve next time – more practical; with trips 11 th November Meeting with Middle Leaders and Senior Leadership team to discuss updates and progress in Science and next steps, including how to record in Science Middle leaders have input into the development of science. Staff to use ICT program 2simple to record active practical learning in science, 12 th November Meeting with PSQM hub to discuss next steps and action plan.Able to begin to write action plan 14 th November Key Stage 2 Book Scrutiny Differentiation is an issue in Key stage 2 books staff inset to be arranged to develop this area 14 th November Planned inset on differentiation in science to share in next available staff meeting Staff have mini inset on differentiation via task, book trawl arranged for just after Christmas to see impact of training. 18 th November Science Overview meeting with Middle leaders Address the need for differentiation and update staff on events in science 21 nd November Key stage 1 Book Scrutiny Improvements in practical science seen with a variety of learning styles, more differentiation is needed, SC to plan differentiation inset 5 th December Learning Walks KS1 and 2 Children’s response, enjoy learning, engaged in the practical side of the new curriculum. 9 th JanuaryKey stage 2 Book Scrutiny Good improvements in differentiation, variety of learning styles seen, prior learning tasks used to assess pupils learning, science targets being used for pupil assessment 16 th JanuaryKey stage 2 learning walk and pupil voicePrinciples seen in classrooms, science displays in corridors and classrooms with curricular links (maths. History, art and literacy) Pupils enjoying the

Core Documents CPD List (All staff) This also works well as a two or three column table in Word, containing date, CPD event and a brief (one sentence) focus on impact. Note CPD is more than just courses. For silver and gold this should include your colleague’s engagement with CPD.

DateCPDStaffImpact May 2014Healthy SchoolsKS1 Lead teachers Leaders better informed to deliver Healthy Schools objectives. Information delivered to KS1 teachers at the next Key Stage meeting. May 2014Outdoor LearningReception teacher Teacher expanded experience and gathering ideas of activities and resources to deliver outdoor learning in eth curriculum. June 2014 Assessment & progression in science Science coordinator Subject leader improved understanding of the expectations of the new curriculum and ideas to establish the tracking of children’s scientific learning in the school. June 2014 Cooking in the Curriculum Healthy School coordinator Food for Life course – followed up by a staff PDM to share techniques and ideas for the delivery of cooking in the classroom. Curriculum coverage was delivered and recording books also given to class teachers. July 2014 Staff PDM – new science curriculum Science Coordinator Subject leader shared changes to the new curriculum and implications for each year group. She also delivered the revised Medium Term Planning for each year group which was planned to ensure expected coverage of the new curriculum. September 2014 Farm visits and Farmers Markets Healthy School coordinator Staff understand the practicalities of organising and running a successful Farmers Market for the school. Ideas for community links and October 2014 Food for Life Cluster meeting Healthy Schools coordinator and Nursery Lead Teacher Academy staff meeting staff from local schools to compare and share ideas. Suggestions for planning and activities taken back to staff and shared at subsequent staff PDM. October 2014Change 4 Life Healthy Schools Coordinator Staff understand the practicalities of successfully integrating healthy schools objectives into our curriculum. Subsequent liaison with catering manager also ensured that we are able to maintain a healthy school status with regard to our breakfast, lunches and tuck shop provision. December 2014 Staff PDM: Science, Principles and inspiration Science Coordinator Whole school staff (teachers and TAs) sharing ideas and goals to establish the Academy Principles of Science Teaching. Science Coordinator January 2015 Growing Food in School Science Coordinator Practical workshop showing ideas and activities that will enable the successful delivery of a growing curriculum in school. This will be delivered to staff in a subsequent staff meeting. January 2015Staff PDM Science – Growing in the curriculum Science CoordinatorFollowing the ‘Growing in School’ workshop, the subject coordinator was able to deliver a PDM sharing information and practical activities that the staff are able to use in their delivery of curriculum expectations.

Core Documents Calendar of Events (The children) This, again, works well as a two or three column table in Word, containing date, event and a brief (one sentence) focus on impact. This is about what the children have beyond their regular curriculum entitlement for science

23 rd OctoberYear 5 and parents took part in a Villa Vitality Workshop This linked to the Topic ‘Fit for Life’ and parents were able to find out about their children learning also. 6 th Nov 13 th Nov 20 th Nov 27 th Nov 4 th Dec Science Afterschool Club, lead by Science Coordinator and a Newly Qualified Teacher. Wk1: Balloon rockets, Wk2: popping rockets. Wk3: Rocket launch, wk4: planes, Wk5: helicopters, Wk6: parachutes, Excellent feedback and pupils asking when the next science club will start. Proposed for the summer term 13 th NovemberYear 6 to skills show at NEC Children can see Science links and future carers linked to Science 3 rd DecemberReception to West Midlands Safari Park Children were able to learn about the world around them, linking to their current learning topic. 4 th DecemberScience Club trip to Think tank Children to talk part in practical learning extending eh club learning linked to forces 11 th DecemberVilla vitality Year 5 take part in workshops to develop their learning lined to Fit for life 28 th JanuaryYear 4T assembly – Rainforests Assembly to teach the school about rainforests and show year 4 learning to the school and parents 4 th MarchYr 2 Trip to Farm As part of their Year 2 ‘I am alive’ topic, children visited the farm to learn more about animals and their needs. 6 th MarchChicks in Reception Chicks allowed the whole school t learn about the life cycle of a chick and children completed cross curricular learning linked to the chicks. 17 th MarchBirmingham Think Tank Science Museum Outreach Yr 4 Electricity Workshop Yr 3 Forces Workshop Children took part in science workshops linked to their current science theme, allowing them to have a deeper understanding. Children were engaged by the resources and different approaches used to teach the themes.

A PSQM reflection Core documents provide evidence for reflections

SMART targets Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time related Effective CPD model (Adey et al) Relevant to need Sustained Collaborative Embedded in culture of school Career linked 2 Models of Action Planning

Completing an Action Plan

Silver Award Criteria C1 Action PlanImpact expectedEvidence C1: All pupils are actively engaged in a science enquiry; using a variety of enquiry strategies, independently making decisions, using evidence to answering their own questions, solving real problems, evaluating their work. A programme of regular visits/visitors, outreach experiences and workshop activities is being developed for all classes to enhance specific science units/themes. Fieldwork is carried out in the local area and sometimes, beyond it. Contact by pupils and teachers is made to other schools/community to enrich scientific understanding. Examples of Action Planning

Silver Award Criteria C1 Actions Impact expectedEvidence A programme of regular visits/visitors, outreach experiences and workshop activities is being developed for all classes to enhance specific science units/themes. Fieldwork is carried out in the local area and sometimes, beyond it. Contact by pupils and teachers is made to other schools/community to enrich scientific understanding. This year we aim to increase the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm in a number of ways. KP to arrange KS2 Big science project competition (in relation to Science and Engineering Week) and get photos, feedback from children. There will be an emphasis on SC1 planning All science lessons clearly differentiated to reflect AG &T The children are encouraged to use the fronter science room. Science club members encouraged to try out mini science experiments with their parents/careers Children are responding to their teachers marking. Collect examples of questions from plans. Examples of Action Planning

Silver Award Criteria C1Action Plan Impact expected Evidence Children’s curiosity is encouraged. They ask questions and encounter challenging problems, and independently come up with ways to investigate them using their growing scientific skills. Differentiated activities of appropriate challenge are provided for all pupils offering extension and open-ended work for the most able, and support / guidance for the least. Children are given the opportunity to reflect on their work. They are encouraged to engage in relevant and motivating science at home. Pupils are encouraged to participate in school- based science initiatives. This year we aim to increase the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm in a number of ways. KP to arrange KS2 Big science project competition (in relation to Science and Engineering Week) and get photos, feedback from children. There will be an emphasis on SC1 planning All science lessons clearly differentiated to reflect AG &T The children are encouraged to use the fronter science room. Science club members encouraged to try out mini science experiments with their parents/careers Children are responding to their teachers marking. Collect examples of questions from plans. Chn excited about science/develop scientific skills. Raise the profile of science, more science trips. More learning occurring outdoors. Increased opportunity to engage with local community Examples of Action Planning

Silver Award Criteria C1Action PlanImpact expected Evidence Children’s curiosity is encouraged. They ask questions and encounter challenging problems, and independently come up with ways to investigate them using their growing scientific skills. Differentiated activities of appropriate challenge are provided for all pupils offering extension and open-ended work for the most able, and support / guidance for the least. Children are given the opportunity to reflect on their work. They are encouraged to engage in relevant and motivating science at home. Pupils are encouraged to participate in school- based science initiatives. This year we aim to increase the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm in a number of ways. KP to arrange KS2 Big science project competition (in relation to Science and Engineering Week) and get photos, feedback from children. There will be an emphasis on SC1 planning All science lessons clearly differentiated to reflect AG &T The children are encouraged to use the fronter science room. Science club members encouraged to try out mini science experiments with their parents/careers Children are responding to their teachers marking. Collect examples of questions from plans. Children will use Fronter for science homework or activities. (see print out of screen) Evidence in planning Children will be more aware of how they can improve through teacher feedback. Children will have more opportunity to consider open ended questions Portfolio: s with WHS staff, chn’s quotes. Portfolio: photographs, chn’s quotes. Portfolio: MTPs. Science calendar SL log Examples of Action Planning

Managing Time Only one additional action per week to that the school sets and ideally not during a heavy school week - you can’t write reports and do a work trawl in the same week! Don’t move the event forwards in time – all actions will be at the end of term or in the holidays! Always book a staff meeting slot (even if not a whole session) immediately after any monitoring to share generic feedback and next steps. Remember that all meetings and events take time to prepare…plan this into the calendar too e.g. a science week needs outline planning a year in advance, more detailed at least a term before and checking over with a staff meeting 2 weeks in advance – as a basic guide. When holding a staff meeting provide notes for information and use the face to face time for activities and discussion. Built in time to relax and to think…you are allowed time off!

Complete your action plan before the next session. Map out your time so you can manage it all. Get going with your actions. Continue to update your ‘Logs’. Gap Tasks PRIMARY SCIENCE QUALITY MARK® PRIMARY SCIENCE QUALITY MARK