Today is #LGBTQSTEMDay 🌈

Here are two blogs from @amybrewer.bsky.social that highlight a number of LGBTQ+ scientists and how you can link them to GCSE Science topics:

www.ocr.org.uk/blog/pride-s...

www.ocr.org.uk/blog/pride-m...

#SciTeachUK #OCRScience

We also promoted our new Purposeful Practical resources for GCSE Science. If you haven’t seen them, they include questions on procedural understanding and integrated instructions for each activity. More detail here: www.ocr.org.uk/Images/71626... #SciTeachUK #OCRScience

Next up an update on what we’ve heard on the ongoing DfE Call for Evidence. Summary: they’ve had so many responses already that the date of the interim report has been pushed back to a broader “Spring” from January.

A overview of what the DfE think they’ve heard so far below #SciTeachUK #OCRScience

We have upcoming online PD for our GCSE science quals...free "Starting to Teach" courses as well as Enhance your Teaching (£99 each) for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, maths skills and practical skills - see Teach Cambridge or: www.ocr.org.uk/qualificatio... #OCRscience #teachers #exams

First up is Dr Jo Foster from the Institute of Research in Schools discussing her work with the STEM Collaboration Group and how they’ve brought organisations together to provide evidence to inform the current government curriculum review #OCRScience

We have a Face to Face teacher network in Reading College next week on Wednesday 29 January and in City Oxford College on 6 February. There is also a Physics network online on Thursday 30 January. Links to sign-up for these are here: teach.ocr.org.uk/teacher-netw... #teachers #OCRscience #teachers

Ready to go for this morning’s OCR Science Consultative Forum with the rest of the #OCRScience team.

We’ll be talking about 11-16 curriculum, evolving assessment structures, curriculum modernisation and more!

Now @mikeycaer.bsky.social is prompting discussion around how we include environmental and sustainability in science qualifications.

Questions being posed below – interested in the #SciTeachUK perspective on these too #OCRScience

After some discussion of summer science exam outcomes, we’re now looking at what the OCR “Striking the Balance” review of 11-16 curriculum and assessment means for science qualifications.

If you’ve not read the report yet, you can find it here: www.ocr.org.uk/Images/71791...

#OCRScience

Day trip down to London for the Salters Institute awards 🥇 It was great to chat to the winning students and hear where the #OCRScience Chemistry A Level has taken them.

We were also treated to a fantastic presentation from Andrea Sella on the strange properties of ice 🧊

72% of science teachers the report surveyed don’t want a return to coursework for assessment. Interested what the feeling is here on #SciTeachUK? #OCRScience

What a passionate and motivated group of people today! There was a “real buzz” full of optimism and excitement for science education.
Was great to catch up with lots of people in person again!
#OCRScience.
If you’d like to contribute to our next consultative forum, get in touch! [email protected]

Now some discussion of EDIB approaches in science curricula, highlighting the inclusive approach to teaching human reproduction in the new OCR Human Biology qualification which has been commended by the Royal Society of Biology #SciTeachUK #OCRScience

Rounding off this group of discussions by asking what a modern science curriculum looks like, what we’d like to see in the future, and what can be done right now.

Again, welcome any #SciTeachUK thoughts on these questions! #OCRScience

We will have an online Science teacher network on 12 March for all OCR science quals. Sign-up here! teach.ocr.org.uk/teacher-netw... #OCRscience #teachers #exams