Enjoy Science: A Network Collaboration to develop skills in Investigation, Questioning and Prediction

The Provider:
Enjoy Science Network, Sandwell
The schools involved are:

• 2 one form entry Primary Schools,
• 1 three form entry Infant School and
• 1 two form entry Primary School,

The schools are situated in different locations across Sandwell.
Attainment on entry across the four schools varies dramatically, from well below expectations and a high proportion of EAL pupils, to a significant proportion of children well above expectations.
Summary:

• The Network developed two years ago with funding from PLSN following a successful partnership in developing the teaching and learning of mathematics.
• The Enjoy Science Network evolved through the shared realisation that Science needed a higher profile, with increased CPD in AT1 and the development in key skills in Science.
• The Network has impacted significantly across all four schools in the learning and teaching of Primary Science, with increased teacher and pupil enjoyment, confidence and the ability to discuss and question their Scientific environment.
• Schools have used enquiry-based learning approach as a tool for developing key skills in science.

The Aim:

• The schools had worked successfully together on a previous project, which provided quality CPD opportunities for all staff. A key to this success was Headteacher commitment and involvement, plus the opportunity to delegate responsibility to Coordinators in each School, thus enabling the project to progress and impact across all schools equitably. When additional funding became available from school to school networking programme it was decided to develop the successful and established working relationships to raise the quality of teaching and learning in Science, by applying the same key principles. Hence the Enjoy Science program.

What do you see in the school?

• Enjoyment of science is a clear focus in all four schools;
• Science coordinators are fully committed and actively involved in promoting science in their schools
• Headteachers are actively involved and share the role of network coordinator
• LA supports the work through the provision of a Network facilitator
• Science work prominent around school
• LA school-to-school Aims
• Coordinator training with Science consultant
• Commitment to network in SIPs
• Common approach to teaching & learning
• Regular monitoring and evaluation
• Headteacher liaison and group-working
• Involving all staff, parents and governors
• Regular headteacher meetings
• Effective financial management
• Development of coordinator role
• Devolved responsibility to subject leaders
• Involvement of governing bodies
• Introduction of enquiry-based learning
• Use of interactive displays in classrooms and halls
• Structured approach to investigative and problem-solving work
• Pupil-initiated and pupil-centred teaching and learning
• Subject leader and whole-staff training events
• Increased range of enrichment activities (visits to Think Tank, Quantum Theatre etc.)
• Science days & science weeks
• Improved quality and quantity of resource
• Lesson observations
• Subject leader monitoring
• Use of questionnaires to establish baseline and ongoing progress
• Headteacher role in monitoring & evaluation
• Use of staff meetings for feedback and discussion

What difference does it make?

• Use of assessment & monitoring information to track pupil progress
• Increased confidence and independence of pupils
• Effective approach to teaching science
• Improved levels of attainment in science
• Effective budget management
• Improved range of resources to support teaching & learning in science
• Increased pupil enjoyment of science
• Development of outdoor learning environment
• Effective partnership between four schools
• Sharing of good practice
• Raised profile of schools in LA
• Joint training events
• Effective systems for sharing good practice in each school
• Effective systems for sharing best practice between partner schools
• Regular coordinator meetings and training across network
• Enjoy Science booklet
• Reports produced for NCSL publication
• Production of training materials
• Reports to parents
• Involvement in Action Research project in LA

From where is evidence collected to prove the Leading Aspect?

• Action Plans
• Assessment records
• Booklet for circulation
• Case studies
• Common approach to investigative work in class
• Display boards in classrooms and halls
• End of key stage results
• Evaluations following staff training
• Financial records
• INSET programme
• Investigation boards in classrooms
• LA evaluations
• Lesson observation records
• Minutes of facilitators' meetings
• Minutes of Headteacher meetings
• Minutes of inter-school meetings
• Minutes of staff meetings
• Newsletters
• Photographs
• Plans and reports relating to subject leader training
• Plans for shared teaching days
• Plans for training events
• Pupil response
• Pupil work in books and folders
• Records and evaluations of joint training events
• Reports to parents, governors and network partners
• Sample questionnaires
• Samples of planning
• Samples of subject leader monitoring
• School Improvement Plans
• Science displays
• SIPs for each school
• Training material for enquiry-based learning
• Training notes / booklets

The Verifiers Comment

• The commitment and drive of the headteachers in ensuring that the network received appropriate prominence in their schools' workload;
• The arrangements for managing the finances of the network;
• The value for money achieved;
• The booklet produced by the network to disseminate good practice;
• The sustainability of networking between these schools;
• The development and subsequent role of the science subject leaders;
• The sharing of good practice between the network schools.