Positive change and adaptations – members share their stories for British Science Week
The theme for British Science Week 2025 (7-16 March), is ‘Change and Adapt’! To celebrate, we asked our members ‘Have you made a positive change or adaptation in your teaching practice over the past year?’
Here are some of the changes they have highlighted, which we hope will inspire more of you to take forward even a small change to help you in your work, or with your own, or your team’s well being.
Alex Farrer, Head of Junior Science
Words on windows:
Fiona Roberts, RSciTech. Senior Science Technician
Over the last year I have developed several adaptations to our practicals to make them accessible for all our learners and to improve lab management during practical lessons. Practicals are now set up in student trays which means that all students have the equipment in the same layout which aids teacher instruction. Laminated inserts for the trays allow for microscale practicals with integrated instructions which fosters independence in carrying out the practical and allows time for discussions. Our bottle labels have coloured markings on which correspond to the tray insert instructions, and labels are in a dyslexia friendly font.
Dr Jo Montgomery, Teacher and Education Consultant (PSQM Hub Leader and Regional Lead, ASE Teacher Developers committee)
A positive change or adaptation I’ve made to my professional practice this year is engaging with the new Primary Science Quality Mark framework. PSQM has long been a hugely impactful development programme for science leads and schools improving primary science teaching and learning, and the new framework ensures that this is now even more focused and purposeful. As a PSQM hub leader and regional lead, I see the massive impact this has on hundreds of schools and children’s outcomes in myriad ways including through developing science capital, assessment practices, teaching strategies, working scientifically, cross curricular links and enrichment.
Matthew Docking, Assistant Principal: STEM
I always come home from the ASE National Conference with a thousand ideas and things to do. This year I chose to do less, better. I identified three things that I had the time to do.
- Put together and print a range of STEM job posters..
- Fully resource and introduce one microscale chemistry practical.
- Put field work in our year 8 Earth Science unit by collaborating with the Geography Department.
One month later – all done!
Nicky Souter
During the past year I have completed a resource, based on Fiona Waters, (2018) “I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree - A Poem for Every Day of the Year”, National Trust.
The process involved establishing contexts for learning as derived from each poem, and placing literacy as the vehicle rather than the endpoint for children’s STEM learning.
Each poem has been recited, recorded, illustrated, annotated, catalogued and packaged in PowerPoints with suggested learning activities, contacts, resources, and more, much more.
The collection is ready now for sharing with primary teachers.
Alex Farrer, Head of Junior Science
Positive change and adaptations: online meeting introductions