AQA and Edexcel announce all specifications accredited. OCR still waiting!

For details follow this link.   http://www.sciencelab.org.uk/resourcezone/ for AQA

For details follow this link  http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/GCSE-science-2011/Pages/specifications.aspx      for Edexcel

 For details follow this link      http://www.ocr.org.uk/campaigns/science/?gclid=CLHg7Mqoo6cCFcod4Qod5Ey5CA                       for the latest position with OCR specifications.

AQA's First specification now accredited

I'm pleased to pass on the news that Additional Applied Science is AQA's first specification to receive accreditation. Follow the hyperlink to AQA's general science GCSE page to see other draft specs. http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/GCSE_science.php

If Edexcel is your chosen board, follow this link to see their latest submissions (not yet accredited).
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/GCSE-science-2011/Pages/default.aspx

For OCR follow this link (also not yet accredited)  http://www.ocr.org.uk/campaigns/science/?gclid=CJnJt-nJ_aYCFcULfAod00cEaw

Finally if you're looking to the WJEC (Welsh Board) then start here http://www.wjec.co.uk/index.php?subject=77&level=7

Recent developments

The coalition government have not rushed out new educational ideas in the first few months since the election. Very recently there has been an indication of a "back to basics" approach with more emphsis on facts and knowledge and less on skills development. The detail is not yet forthcoming for how this might affect science education. We await the final detail from the examination boards following submissions of their new specifications.

In short, we are still waiting for clarity and information of the way forward.

Free "Getting Practical" training in Maidstone

Maidstone Girls grammar School is hosting some free traing on "Getting Practical". Follow the link below for further details.

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0CdTEMBKmzVYmI1ZDlkMTgtMDdiYS00ZTFiLWJlY2QtNTA0NjkwY2U2NjZm&hl=en

APP recording sheets linked to Learning Targets

The link below allows a download of an APP recording system designed by the Bedfordshire Strategy Team. Full instructions for use are included. Have a look and see if it suits your needs.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkCdTEMBKmzVdHVhTS05dWcySnhkRFBXa2E0WkhCM2c&hl=en#gid=0

Chemistry for Non-Specialists.

Follow this link for details of a Chemistry for non-specialists course starting soon. This is an RSC course running at Sussex University in Brighton.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0CdTEMBKmzVYjliMGQwMzQtZjUxZi00MDkxLThhMGEtZmI2MWRlNzE1OTdl&hl=en

Triple Science Training

Follow the link below for details of free training for triple science focussing on raising achievement. Full details are included in the zipped file you can download. This course is running in Kent at the Sittingbourne Science Resource Centre.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0CdTEMBKmzVZmY4Zjc0YzktYzFjZS00ZjdiLWI2MzAtZmUyMzQwMTYzY2U0&hl=en