084485/Z/07/Z: The Primary Science Quality Mark Award (Pilot Scheme)

Project Summary:This project is designed to develop and evaluate a regionally piloted Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) award, with the intention of informing a subsequent roll-out of a national award scheme for primary schools. The PSQM will address widely acknowledged concerns about the status of science in primary schools, offering schools an effective framework for self evaluation leading to the development of high quality science teaching and learning, and significantly, the opportunity for schools to receive external recognition for their efforts and achievements in science across the whole school. This project will involve schools from Local Authorities in East England working with experts from the Science Learning Centre East of England, Local Authorities Curriculum Support teams and the Association for Science Education to measure, improve and celebrate high quality provision for science teaching and learning; to acknowledge the central place of science in a creative and coherent curriculum, and to develop a school ethos that "science matters". The project aims to raise the quality of science in primary schools and thereby stimulate in pupils a long term interest and engagement with science (including biomedical science).

Grant Holder:Mrs Jane Turner

Organisation:University of Hertfordshire

Financial Year:2007/2008