PSQM Director and administrative team at University of Hertfordshire 8 Senior Regional Hub Leaders + 2 academics 80+ Hub leaders History Two year pilot Round 1 January 2010

Intended course outcome You’ll feel confident about being a PSQM hub leader: Informed and enthusiastic about: - process - criteria - support (training and mentoring) - website

Discussion to start What do you know about PSQM? Why do you want to be a Hub Leader?

What is PSQM? The Primary Science Quality Mark is an award scheme to develop and celebrate the quality of science teaching and learning in primary schools.

‘Maintaining Curiosity’ Survey Ofsted 2013 School leaders who recognised the likelihood of a declining profile for science were able to mitigate the risk by, for example, seeking accreditation through the primary science quality mark (PSQM) The process of gaining the award brings benefits beyond the certificate because it requires school leaders to evaluate their provision and justify their science curriculum as being fit for promoting good learning. It also connects school science leaders to other primary school leaders who have successfully raised the subject’s profile in their schools education-schools education-schools

New Hub Leader Training Part one: How the PSQM process works Part two: Getting to know the PSQM criteria Part three: Supporting PSQM schools Part four: Questions and next steps

Part One How the PSQM Process Works

What is the process? On-line submission follows a year-long programme that starts in either Spring or Autumn: school based evaluation Complete an initial audit/self assessment against Primary Science Quality Mark criteria, decide which award to aim for. professional development Training will focus on monitoring, scrutiny, evaluation and reflection as processes. action planning Plan to collect evidence showing the impact of actions. implementation Put into place over a period of terms. evidence collection Upload core documents. reflection on the impact Reflective writing, evidence in core documents.

Recruit schools Lead minimum of two PSQM professional development days per hub per year (can be 4 half days but NE usually has 6 x 2 hour twilight sessions) Inform the PSQM management team of any change in circumstances that will affect them working as a hub leader Monitor and mentor subject leaders – communicate with the Science Subject Leader via the online message facility and encourage them during the process; – give feedback on the Subject leader’s action plan; – monitor the Science Subject Leader’s progress against their action plan; – provide constructive feedback on core documents and reflections; – inform the PSQM centre co-ordinator of any relevant issues and difficulties experienced by the Science Subject Leader that they are unable to resolve themselves. Review submissions from other hubs (for a fee) Hub leader role and responsibilities

School subject leader responsibilities Attend PSQM professional development sessions, nominally 2 meetings per year or equivalent (can be 4 half days or 6 x 1.5 hour twilight sessions) Carry out an initial audit, action plan, and collection of evidence,(self assessment) Compile an Action Plan, upload to website Act on identified points for development following feedback Take responsibility for uploading evidence and write reflections that meet the criteria Inform the Hub Leader/Mentor and/or PSQM R team of any change in circumstances that is relevant to their progress and their award.

Using the PSQM web site Members’ Area – Hub Leader Hubleader Info and Resources - Username: hubleader - Password: hubleader1 Members’ Area – School School Info and Resources - Username: school - Password: school1 Login – Access to school portals Username and password ed from PSQM

Part Two - The PSQM Criteria A. Subject Leadership (A1-A5) B. Teachers and Teaching (B1-B3) C. Pupils and Learning (C1-C3) D. Wider Opportunities (D1-D2)

BronzeGold Silver 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

Self assessment process See Members' area > Member hub leaders > Training resources > Session One -Members' areaMember hub leaders Self assessment Criteria Self assessment Guidance Notes School completes the on-line self assessment and adds a comment about which level they think they would like to go for. If the hub leader agrees, they assign the level on- line. See next slide. Criteria and self assessment

Assigning the level

Part Three – Supporting PSQM schools 2 days equivalent training sessions e.g. 4 x ½ days or 6 x twilights to include: Support with the PSQM activities CPD on subject leadership Sharing good practice Responding to needs Gap tasks On-line support

Training Resources HomeHome > Members' area > Member hub leaders > Training resourcesMembers' areaMember hub leaders Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4

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1. PSQM action plan 2. Principles of teaching science in your school- “We know that good science occurs in our school when…” 3. Subject Leader Log 4. List of CPD activities of science leader and other members of staff 5. School Development Plan: sections that have relevance to science 6. Sample portfolio of annotated medium and short term planning including children’s work Bronze Award- from science subject leader’s class Silver Award- from 3 classes taken from across the school Gold Award – from 5 classes taken from across school + beyond the school gate 7. Calendar of science events in school (assemblies, outings, science days and weeks, visits, visiting speakers, activity days) PSQM Core documents leaders/resources/session-two?a=84916

Supporting PSQM schools Action planning Members' area > Member schools > Action plans and action planning guidanceMembers' areaMember schools

Two models for supporting effective action planning 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 (Personal Development)

Supporting PSQM schools Members' areaMembers' area > Member schools > Criteria activitiesMember schools Criteria Activity 1. Devising principles for good science teaching and learning 2. Using principles to set a vision 3. Managing resources 4. Listening to pupil voice And more

Supporting PSQM schools Suggested task Card sort- the role of the subject leader - Leader or Manager Members' areaMembers' area > Member hub leaders > Training resources > Session TwoMember hub leaders

Reflections

The PSQM Portfolio Numerous examples on website, and guidance notes

Final website uploading If the science leader has all documents saved as Word and PowerPoint files, then uploading can happen very quickly. Once everything has been uploaded (including all reflections, including E) then an ‘Application Complete’ button appears on the school’s Home page for the science leader to click. You, as Hub leader, will then need to click a button on the school’s Home page to submit to PSQM when you are happy.

Reviewing Submissions See document re reviewing guidance in hub leader area on website.

Part Four - Questions and next steps

Intended course outcomes met? Confident PSQM hub leaders Informed and enthusiastic about: - process - criteria - support (training and mentoring) - website

Time for Celebration - Award Ceremony