By Stacey Wheeler, Senior Science Technician When students come to us from year 6 they are amazed to be in a real lab; the benches, the high stools, sinks, gas taps, and all the sockets around! For some the novelty wears off quicker than others. Perhaps they realise that the stools aren’t actually that comfortable. […]
Read more Stacey Wheeler discusses common lab equipment used in practicals and rates them on usefulness, awe and wonder, and effectiveness.
Read more Secondary science teacher Adele Read shares key highlights from trialling Oxford Smart Activate in year 7 curriculum, including many benefits and the key differences compared to her current school curriculum.
Read more
Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt discusses the challenges of improving science curriculum and argues that there are many strategies to support developing metacognition and self-regulation.
Read more
Dr Andrew Chandler-Grevatt, assessment expert and Oxford Smart Activate series editor shares his five tips to empower students throughout their KS3 science journey and progress to GCSE.
Read more
We asked the Oxford STEM team about what attracted them to a career in STEM. As a child, I frequently found fossils in the garden. With neighbours, we set up a fossil club and museum, which kept us happy for hours. I didn’t realise then, but my love of STEM had begun.Later, chemistry teacher Mrs […]
Read more
Many students are scared of maths and do not even attempt questions with a mathematical feel. Sam Holyman shares tips on how to encourage students to give it a go in the mathematical questions in the examinations.
Read more
As we head towards Mock season for our GCSE groups, we are still unsure of the importance of this set of exams. In the past, Mocks gave students a little bit of the experience of what to expect in the real exam season, but this time, they could contribute to their actual GCSE grade if the examinations get cancelled for the third year running due to the Covid-19 global Pandemic. So, Mocks are more important than ever but how do we prepare our students best?
Read more
Sam Holyman outlines required practicals for GCSE and A-level Science specifications that they are studying, including why they are vital in the school curriculum.
Read more
Following on from her appearance on the Oxford Education Podcast , Penny Rabiger explores the place of teaching social justice and doing antiracism work from her perspective as an educator, scholar and activist. A strong sense of moral purpose brought most of us into teaching – we want our students and colleagues to be treated fairly and equitably. […]
Read more