Secondary Science: Ofsted's Recommendations for a High-Quality Education

Dr Hellen Ward Lecturer, author, STEM ambassador and former teacher

Webinar 51min

This webinar will provide headteachers, curriculum leaders, subject leaders, teachers and practitioners with insight into Ofsted’s research review series: science which provides an evidence-based conception of a high-quality science curriculum to support Ofsted’s inspection judgements and guide curriculum planning.

Description
Learning Outcomes
Expert
Reviews

This webinar will provide headteachers, curriculum leaders, subject leaders, teachers and practitioners with insight into Ofsted’s research review series: science which provides an evidence-based conception of a high-quality science curriculum to support Ofsted’s inspection judgements and guide curriculum planning.

Ofsted is publishing a series of research reviews, each identifying factors which can contribute to high-quality curricula, assessment, pedagogy and systems in a specific subject. They can be used by subject and curriculum leaders to inform provision, particularly timely as schools face the challenge of catching up after remote education.

In this webinar Dr Hellen Ward, lecturer, author, STEM ambassador, former teacher and member of the Association for Science Education, will explain the principles behind Ofsted’s research reviews and provide an insight into the content of Ofsted's Science review including the national context, factors affecting the quality of science education, curriculum progression, pedagogy, assessment and decision-making.

Dr Hellen Ward

Dr Hellen Ward is a Principal Lecturer at the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Social Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University with an enduring passion for STEM education. She has an MSc in Management and Marketing and a doctorate in science education. Hellen also holds the Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) mark, recognising excellence in science teaching and learning, and a Primary Science Quality Mark Hub award.

Hellen is also a STEM ambassador, a member of the Association for Science Education and a member of the association of achievement and improvement through assessment. She is also part of the National Association of Science Advisers, National Association of Science ITE, and ESERA.

During her work as a teacher-researcher with the SPACE project in the late 1980s, she developed a love of primary science teaching, after which she taught children from reception to year 6 in several schools in Lancashire. She is also the author of five primary science books and is a frequent contributor to national and international primary education publications. She presents at national and international conferences and works with teachers to help develop their science curriculum.

As the Director of the STEM Hub (formerly Kent and Medway Stem), Hellen works with teachers and employers to enable young people to make informed decisions about the future career paths in and from STEM; provide teachers with impartial information and support to allow them to deliver a STEM education; support industry in reducing the STEM skills gap; and raise the profile of science and engineering in the region.

As a primary school governor, Hellen supports science, early years and health and safety. She is also developing Primary Science Community Space, a new concept supporting pupil profile children in four pilot schools to develop their science capital.

As part of the Enthuse partnership, Hellen’s work as an Enthuse coach enables groups of 6-8 schools to work collaboratively to improve teaching and learning. She is also a member of the Engineering guild and sits on the advisory panel for the STEM Hub and Science Learning partnership.

See more from Dr Hellen Ward