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Awards for school scientists

Talented NASUWT members have been recognised for their scientific skills at a national awards ceremony

(Photos of Samantha Harvey, Helen Hewitson and Sarah Monahan)

Three members of the Union were among those honoured at the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust Primary Science Teaching Awards for their excellence and commitment to enthusing children about the world of science.

Samantha Harvey [above] from Colmore Junior School in Birmingham has been honoured for her work to promote science across secondary and primary schools in the city. She is co-leader of a cluster project that links five primary schools with a local specialist science secondary school and was commended by judges for bringing the ‘wow’ factor to students with her imaginative and innovative lessons.

A similarly creative approach to learning saw Helen Hewitson [right] take an award back to Shadsworth Junior School in Blackburn.

Despite being the most deprived junior school in England, Helen’s pupils make outstanding progress in science as a result of her commitment and belief in their potential. Many pupils attend an after-school science club, such is their enthusiasm for the subject.

Helen also works with other schools within the local authority, sharing good practice and the latest scientific developments. Judges were impressed by her hard work to develop links with nearby schools and businesses to offer her pupils new and exciting learning opportunities that help to bring science to life.

A commitment to sharing pedagogy was also a key part of Sarah Monahan’s [above right] success at the awards, as she was recognised for her efforts to help primary colleagues across Lincolnshire improve their science teaching.

Sarah, who teaches at Holt Primary School in Lincoln, has also reached beyond local boundaries by establishing links with schools in the USA to enable her students to share learning and ideas with pupils across the pond.

Keen to encourage her students to see themselves as scientists, judges highlighted Sarah’s commitment to making science relevant to her students by running everything from themed weeks based on the popular TV forensic show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to science-based advertising campaigns.

All of the winners were presented with their awards, plus prizes of £1,000 for both them and their school at the Association for Science Education’s Annual Conference, held last month at the University of Reading.


GTCE closure date announced

It is anticipated that the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), which is being axed by the Coalition Government, will close on 31 March 2012.

Ministers announced last year that the GTCE was among a number of quangos and non-governmental bodies that were being earmarked for closure and, following discussions between the GTCE and the Department for Education (DfE), the projected closure date has been agreed.

Teachers will still be expected to pay the annual registration fee of £36.50 for 2011/12. The NASUWT has raised questions about how this will be funded. The GTCE will not collect a registration fee after March 2012.

The NASUWT is currently studying the Education Bill, which sets out how the GTCE’s functions may be handled in future.

Go online: www.nasuwt.org.uk/GTC