Last year I completed a Gifted And Talented Coordinators course run by Oxford Brookes University. For my school based research I focused on creativity in Key Stage 2 Science for Gifted and Talented pupils.
I was later asked to present at North Yorkshires G.T. conference on aspects of this.
I have had several other teachers from the authority come in to talk about what I have been doing. This has been very useful to both parties.
Following from a shift in the way I was looking at Science, in last years KS2 SATS from a very mixed ability class of 30, 25 achieved level 5, the rest level 4.

Dale Robinson,
Primary Teacher.

My name is Georgina Knell and I am a Biology teacher at Lord Lawson of Beamish School, Gateshead. This is my 7th year teaching and I took visiting another school to a different level, and am currently taking part in the Fulbright international teachers exchange scheme. I am teaching Science (Biology, Physical Science and Anatomy and Physiology) in a small high school in Rockford Ohio (just over 300 pupils). It has been amazing to see how Science is taught in another country. For example here in the US there are no Science Technicians - all practical work has to be set up and cleared away by me FROM SCRATCH! I can tell you I will never take the technicians in Lord Lawson for granted again! I also have to do all photocopying myself. The biggest difference is that here Science does not have to be taken every year - but 3 classes need to be passed over 4 years to graduate. I also teach all 4 year groups at the same time as pupils choose the class whenever they want. There is much more marking to do out here as I see every pupil every day! But the curriculum varies greatly - going into huge details in some areas like photosynthesis, respiration and cell structure, but skimming over others, such as the environment. I have quite a free hand over what I teach as I am the only teacher in the school for the subject. Science is also split into your 'normal sciences' - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Ag Science (farming and everything involved) and most human science being covered in Health classes.

I think there are pros and cons of teaching science in both systems. I like the structure of the British Science curriculum - where pupils are constantly building on previous knowledge, and the external testing is much more organised at home - here sophomores (year 10) have just sat an exam in Science, but it didn't matter if they have studied it this year or not they had to sit it! One good thing about the American system is having slightly more freedom over what you teach - I have enjoyed doing work in projects and exploring new concepts as they arose.

I would definitely recommend every teacher to experience teaching Science in other schools - it has equipped me with some excellent ideas for the future, but also made me realise what things I do well in England.

Georgina Knell

As a teacher in a Science College I often visit other schools to spread the word of Science! One of my favourite schools is Hatfield Peveral infants where we worked together on science projects with the result being that 64 children were awarded the BA 'First Investigators' award - we even got our picture in the local newspaper!
As with all primary visits I am always impressed by the curiosity and enthusiasm of the children and am always reminded how exciting Science is (and has always been!!). I am also impressed by the knowledge and understanding of young children and this has certainly helped us to rewrite our year 7 courses to take into account prior knowledge and understanding. I am always accompanied by our Sixth Form Science Mentors who really like to work with young children - it is always a pleasure to see older students helping younger students and certainly rates highly as a rewarding job by our Sixth formers - some may even be inspired to become Science teachers!!

Stephen Ham
Director of Science
King Edward VI Science College
Chelmsford