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

GCSE Required Practicals - what have the past years taught us?

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT

ESLC B01

Required Practicals (or core practicals) have been a part of GCSE science courses since 2018. This session looks back at why they were introduced, what knowledge and understanding they are meant to develop in students and how this is assessed in exams. We will look at how well students perform in these exams, and what lessons this can teach us about these practicals should be delivered as part of a science curriculum.

Speakers

Euan Douglas

Assistant Head Teacher, St George's Catholic College

I am an Senior Assistant Headteacher responsible for Teaching & Learning and the curriculum at Saint George Catholic College, an Outstanding comprehensive school in Southampton. My involvement with the ASE includes being a member of both my regional committee and previously the 11-19... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
ESLC B01

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Teacher Developers, 14-16, Advisors/Consultants, ITEs, Trainees
Twitter feed @ScienceDouglas

08:45 GMT

Wildflower seed bombs- practical approaches using all three sciences

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT

Chemistry lab C10

The STEM project, which will be presented at Science on Stage at Turku 2024, "Wildflower Seed Bombs Using Recycled Paper," offers an innovative approach to promoting biodiversity and sustainability using all three sciences. The idea of crafting seed bombs from recycled paper and using native wildflower seeds, aims to address environmental challenges while also finding a way to repurpose recycled paper. This project focuses not only on biodiversity and increasing wildlife in our gardens but also looks at the material composition in creating a perfect seed bomb and investigating how they could dispersed using different flying mechanisms.
The workshop will look at:

1.Develop a formula for seed bomb construction incorporating different types, length and structure of recycled paper as a primary binding agent.

2. Look at a specific pollinator we will attract and create a Top Trump card for them based on their rarity and usefulness for our wildflower patch.

3. Design a wind dispersal device how to disperse the seed bombs more effectively.

Speakers

Maren Kelly

Head of Maths and Science, St Catherine's Prep School

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Chemistry lab C10

Primary

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Industry, Teacher Developers, 5 to 7, 7 to 11

09:45 GMT

Rethinking required practicals - making the most of practical opportunities

Saturday January 11, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT

ESLC C13

Are the physics required practicals in your school seen as stand-alone tasks? How can we ensure that these practicals are meaningful to students and are used effectively to aid progress in both conceptual understanding and development of disciplinary knowledge?

Where do they fit in the sequence of learning? Join The Ogden Trust team for a hands-on workshop which includes engaging hooks to ascertain prior knowledge and some teacher hacks for ensuring these class practicals run smoothly. We will suggest relevant contexts to bring the practicals to life by making links to real world applications.

Speakers

Jackie Flaherty

Head of Teaching and Learning, The Ogden Trust

Saturday January 11, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT
ESLC C13

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 14-16, Trainees
Twitter feed @ogdentrust

09:45 GMT

SAPS - Photosynthesis: A Survival Guide

Saturday January 11, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT

Chemistry Lab C10 A

Boost your confidence teaching photosynthesis. Explore our practicals, manoeuvre through misconceptions and delve into the progression within this core topic. Designed for all teachers including both early career and experienced who want to enthuse their students with photosynthesis, you will:

•explore and discuss the pedagogy around teaching photosynthesis
•grow your confidence in handling common practicals
•take away a renewed appreciation of the wonders of photosynthesis to share with your students
•be introduced to new SAPS resources

Visit us at www.saps.org.uk
Tweet @SAPS_News

Speakers

Alex Jenkin

Project Manager, Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS)

Alex project manages the Science and Plants for Schools project, overseeing SAPS’ attendance at the ASE Annual Conference and managing the development of our free teaching resources. Alex is keen to explore how plants can be used as examples across biology, not just in traditional... Read More →

Beverley Goodger

Teacher Consultant, Science and Plants for Schools

Saturday January 11, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Teacher Developers, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, Trainees
Twitter feed @SAPS_News

11:15 GMT

Engaging Electricity

Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT

Chemistry lab C10

This session explores purposeful practical work in the primary classroom through the context of Electricity. Delegates will learn how to design practical activities that deepen pupils learning of electricity concepts while helping pupils see the usefulness of their science learning in everyday life.

By applying science learning to practical problem solving activities, delegates will see how carefully designed practical work can support pupils in seeing themselves as scientists as well as being an effective tool to widen pupils' understanding of how science works.

Speakers

Amanda Poole (Ogden Trust)

Teaching and Learning Coach, Primary Partnerships, Ogden Trust

Amanda Poole is a specialist in primary science education and Chartered Science Teacher. As a physicist, she began her career as a secondary advanced skills teacher in Coventry and after holding a range of senior leadership roles in secondary education she moved into the field of... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Chemistry lab C10

Primary

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, 7 to 11

13:15 GMT

Yes you can!

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 15:05 GMT

Chemistry Lab C10 B

A series of practical demonstrations showing how to carry out safely a selection of practical activities often mistakenly thought to be banned or restricted in school science.

Speakers

Peter Borrows

Member of ASE's H&S Group / Consultant / Former Director of CLEAPSS, Troye Scientific

Retired(ish) Director of CLEAPSS.Member since 1966, and former Chair, of ASE Safety in Science Group (and its predecessors).Author of 54 articles in Education in Chemistry between 1994 and 2012 on chemistry outdoors, two in School Science Review [(1984), The Pimlico chemistry trail... Read More →

Ralph Whitcher

Chair of Health & Safety Committee, ASE

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 15:05 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 B

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, Advisors/Consultants, ITEs, Trainees

14:15 GMT

Astronomy & Astrophysics Drop-In

Saturday January 11, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT

Coates C27

Drop in to discuss any topic – GCSE, A-level and extension work. Collect free resources for examined material. Try out laboratory experiments. Which telescope should you buy? Consider joining the UK meteor network. See how to make a radio-telescope from an oil can – a cantenna. Great Projects.

Speakers

Alan Pickwick

Honorary Treasurer, Association for Astronomy Education

I taught Physics at Manchester Grammar School for 38 years. In the past I chaired the Education Committee for the Royal Astronomical Society for 9 years.

Saturday January 11, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Coates C27

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Industry, Teacher Developers, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, Technicians, Trainees

15:30 GMT

Working like a scientist - skills boost

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT

ESLC B05

Where previous COVID-19 restrictions deprived many teachers and pupils of the opportunities to teach and learn through practical science activities, have you noticed that practical science has been / continues to be affected? Using research shared in ‘Finding the Optimum’, we’ll open a discussion around the continued need to to develop and build on children's Working Scientifically skills. This hands-on practical workshop will share CIEC’s strategies to get children working like scientists, focussing on improving resilience, collaboration and disciplinary skills.

Speakers

Melanie Boyeson

Primary Science Advisory Teacher (Humber), Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC)

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
ESLC B05

Primary

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Industry, 5 to 7, 7 to 11
Twitter feed @ciecyork