ASE 2025 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

The ASE is delighted to be hosting its Annual Conference, generously sponsored by AQA, at the University of Nottingham from 9th to 11th January 2025. International sessions are incorporated throughout the event’s 3 days and we will have a great exhibition with lots of exclusive Conference offers. Post-16 focus-day and for those involved in leading and delivering professional development, the Teacher Developers’ Group programme is Thursday. Friday is the dedicated Technicians day, kindly sponsored by Philip Harris, and Early Career Teacher day. Sessions for both Primary and 11-19 are threaded throughout all 3 days with a focus on Research on Saturday.

Book your tickets now at https://ase2025AnnConf.eventbrite.co.uk - and remember, if you are an ASE member you will benefit from hugely discounted prices! Check out our membership here - it’s free for Early Career Teachers and only £25 for Technicians!

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08:45 GMT

Misconceptions in exams - key lessons from the 2024 summer series

Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT

Pope A1

In this interactive session, the OCR Science team will summarise the key lessons from the 2024 summer exam series. We will highlight some of the misconceptions to be overcome at GCSE and A Level. With the aid of candidate exemplars, we will discuss strategies and resources to deal with misconceptions.

Speakers

Amy Brewer

Science Subject Advisor, OCR

After 16 years in the classroom, teaching science of all flavours and levels in Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Ghana, roles as an ITT mentor and subject lead, I moved to OCR to support the development of the new AAQs in Applied Science and Human Biology. I also now lend my skills of... Read More →

Mike Jackson

Subject Advisor for Science, OCR

Sponsors

OCR

We are a leading not-for-profit UK Exam Board. As part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge, we have access to unrivalled expertise and research capacity across assessment and examinations.We provide qualifications which engage people... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope A1

11-19

Theme Assessment
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Teacher Developers, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16
Twitter feed @OCR_science

09:45 GMT

Professional registration - what it is and what's involved

Friday January 10, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT

Pope A1

An introduction to professional registration with the Science Council. This workshop will explain what's involved, how you can apply and how to write a cracking application. The workshop will cover all registers - Chartered Science Teacher, Registered Scientist and Registered Science Technician

Speakers

Rob Butler

Registrar - Association for Science Education, ASE

I'm a Chartered Science teacher, the registrar and Project Officer for the ASE (running the Keeping Science Practical project).I'm a senior professional development leader for the Science Learning Partnership network and I help the Science Council promote their professional registers... Read More →

Corinne Stevenson

Chair of Registration Board, ASE

I am a School Improvement adviser and work with schools in all phases, primary ,secondary and special-in all areas of science I also work with heads and governors on school improvement. I have supported many colleagues through the registration process in order that the achieve... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT
Pope A1

All

Theme Professional Journeys
Key Stage / Audience Type Global, Industry, Teacher Developers, Technicians, ITEs, Advisors/Consultants, 5 to 7, 7 to 11, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16
Twitter feed @theASE

13:15 GMT

Frames for Learning: Applying Psychology and Cognitive Science in Class

Friday January 10, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT

Pope A1

Frames for Learning (F4L) is a CPD programme for teachers and their teaching assistants which aims to improve science attainment by scaffolding how teachers and pupils approach multi-staged science tasks. F4L is an EEF funded pipeline project that recently completed its pilot phase (September 2023- July 2024).

The F4L programme aims to increase pupils’ recall, knowledge, and understanding in science, by supporting teachers to use the F4L approach. This approach can be integrated into the existing curriculum, and supports teachers to develop and deliver lessons which optimise the amount of information children must process at once (cognitive load), whilst building on pre-existing knowledge and understanding (schema development) to support learning outcomes.

Y5 teachers from 20 primary schools in South Yorkshire and neighbouring regions participated in the pilot. Training took place through a mix of face-to-face and online CPD sessions. Initially, teachers were trained to use worked examples that they could apply immediately. The training programme culminated in teachers planning and delivering their own lessons using the F4L approach. Alongside these applied skills, attendees gained an appreciation of how applied psychology and cognitive science can make a difference to teaching and learning in the primary classroom.

This interactive workshop is hosted by the lead developers of the F4L programme: Andy Bullough and Diarmuid Verrier. The workshop is suitable for teachers and teaching assistants. It will cover key issues that arose during the pilot phase as teachers applied the F4L approach within their classroom and will describe the ways in which the approach supports primary science education.

The ‘frame’ itself is an elegantly simple and readily accessible approach and curriculum tool used to develop a scaffolded pedagogy to science enquiry in KS2 science activities that supports the progress of all learners, including disadvantaged learners.

During the session an exemplar frame activity will be used to consider how the frame can help good practice in the classroom, through the application of cognitive science concepts and principles such as focus, attention, cognitive load theory, schema development, dialogic approaches and meta cognition in the classroom setting.

Building the frame into lesson plans can help ensure that children are ‘on task’ and focused on the intended activity, that they are learning the required curriculum content, and that they are successfully achieving the learning objectives of the task.

By attending this workshop, delegates will develop an enhanced appreciation of how cognitive science approaches can be applied in the classroom. In addition, this is an opportunity to learn more about the frames approach in particular, as well as possible future F4L CPD opportunities.

Speakers

Andy Bullough

Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University

I am a senior research fellow at Sheffield Institute of Education's Centre for Research and Knowledge Exchange. My interests focus on curriculum development, especially in terms of the design of teaching and learning resources and their associated theories. I work on projects with... Read More →

Diarmuid Verrier

Senior lecturer applied developmental psychology, Sheffield Hallam University.

Friday January 10, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope A1

Primary

Theme Curriculum and New Teaching Approaches
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Teacher Developers, Global, 7 to 11, Advisors/Consultants, ITEs, Trainees

15:45 GMT

Developing a critically reflective approach to subject leadership

Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT

Pope A1

Through the eyes of Science Across the City (SATC) and the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), this session looks at the importance of fostering a critically reflective approach to subject leadership and promoting a commitment to continuous growth.

Speakers

Helen Sizer

Deputy Director, Primary Science Quality Mark

Christina Whittaker

Co-lead Science Across The City Project, Science Across the City

Building Capacity in the primary science landscape, Working collaboratively, Systems leadership, School improvement, School self review ( & Deep Dives), nurturing leaders & outreach

Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Pope A1

Primary

Theme Professional Journeys
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, 5 to 7, 7 to 11, Global, Teacher Developers, Selected by Teacher Developers' Group

16:45 GMT

Meet and Greet the 11-19 Committee

Friday January 10, 2025 16:45 - 17:30 GMT

Pope A1

If you are a secondary teacher or science education consultant, come along to the "Meet the 11 to 19 Committee" session at the end of Friday of Annual Conference 2025.

Got a question? Ever wondered about what goes on behind the scenes? Ever thought about getting involved in Committee activities? Are you wanting to know more about Professional Registration or writing an article for one of the ASE journals?

We look forward to listening to your questions and will endeavour to answer them!

Speakers

Wendy Pearmain

Chair of 11-19 Committee, ASE

Friday January 10, 2025 16:45 - 17:30 GMT
Pope A1

11-19

Theme Professional Journeys
Key Stage / Audience Type 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, ITEs, Advisors/Consultants
Twitter feed @theASE