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!

09:45 GMT

Practical work with plants for new technicians: Get the pondweed bubbling!

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

Chemistry Lab C10 A

Get hands-on experience with common plant-based practicals for secondary and post-16 science. Designed for those new to providing biology technical support, you will:

•explore the preparation and set-up for plant practicals including bubbling pondweed, photosynthesis with algal balls and root tip mitosis
•be introduced to core GCSE and A-level practical SAPS resources
•grow your confidence sourcing, caring for and preparing live plant material
•be introduced to further SAPS resources

Visit us at www.saps.org.uk
Tweet @SAPS_News
View our demos at youtube.com/ScienceAndPlants

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 →

Dan Jenkins

Head of Gatsby Plant Education Programme, Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS)

Dan is Head of the Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme and directs the Science and Plants for Schools project. For over 10 years Dan has developed practicals and resources for SAPS and is a dab hand at getting any plant to behave in the school lab. Dan’s background in plant... Read More →

Sponsors

Philip Harris UK Ltd (Part of the Findel Education Family)

We are Philip Harris. Explorers of science since 1817.For generations we’ve helped to make sure science is one of the undisputed essentials of a great education.We’ve helped to take it off the blackboard and into the lab, creating a rich, hands-on world of test tubes, circuits... Read More →

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

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians
Twitter feed @SAPS_News

11:15 GMT

Technicians: Make and take - resources and ideas workshop

Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT

Chemistry Lab C10 A

A hands on session with a selection of activites for you to make and take away. The activities are ideal for science clubs, practical lessons and more, and include ideas suitable for KS2, KS3 and KS4.

Speakers

Sarah James

Science Technician, Fairfax Academy

All resources available here - https://www.tes.com/resources/search/?authorId=4513166

Sponsors

Philip Harris UK Ltd (Part of the Findel Education Family)

Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

12:15 GMT

Technicians: Osmosis and diffusion

Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT

Chemistry Lab C10 A

NOT…… Just those things with chips and air fresheners??

Refresh or learn other simple ways to show these dear old science topics.

Try out an Osmosis circus and Diffusion demos, particularly aimed at Technicians new to the role.

Speakers

Jenny Baker

Science Technician, The Corby Sixth Form College

Sponsors

Philip Harris UK Ltd (Part of the Findel Education Family)

Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians
Twitter feed @theASE

14:15 GMT

Technicians: Practical Adaptations for SEND

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

Chemistry Lab C10 A

This session looks at ways to adapt practicals and resources to make them accessible to all learners. There will be a chance to try some of them out for yourself.

Speakers

Fiona Roberts RSciTech

Senior Science Technician / Chair of ASE Technicians Committee, Morley Academy

I have been a school science technician for 14 years. Prior to this I was a Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology working for the NHS.I currently work across biology, chemistry & physics in KS3 & KS4.I'm a member of the ASE Technician's committee & collate the Prep Room pages for... Read More →

Sponsors

Philip Harris UK Ltd (Part of the Findel Education Family)

Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

15:45 GMT

Technicians: Resources for developing skills as a new technician

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

Chemistry Lab C10 A

Exploring the role of a science technician, identifying key equipment, giving guidance on how to manage your tasks and time, health and safety advice, organising your prep room, and improving your technical skills.

Speakers

Jeanette Dyer

Science Technician, Melbourn Village College

School science technician for 12 years (2012- present). Experience at KS3 and KS4 for all sciences and KS5 Biology. Recently elected to ASE Technicians' Committee (Aug 2024). Associate Professional Development Lead for Technicians courses with STEM Learning since 2019 (Cambridge and... Read More →

Sponsors

Philip Harris UK Ltd (Part of the Findel Education Family)

Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

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)

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

13:15 GMT

Pearson: Ideas to Deliver Engaging Practical Lessons for Different Types of Learners

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT

Chemistry Lab C10 A

Prioritising Practicals: Ideas to Deliver Engaging Practical Lessons for Different Types of Learners (Part of Pearson’s Engage, Inspire and Support Series)

This interactive session will be exploring practical science approaches designed to cater to and captivate a variety of learner types. From hands-on experiments to exciting demonstrations, these ideas will empower educators to create dynamic learning experiences that resonate with every student and create more inclusive, and effective learning experiences in their classrooms.

This session is sponsored by Pearson Edexcel

Speakers

Tosin Oliyide

Senior Qualifications Manager- GCSE Science, Pearson Edexcel

Lee Thompson

Product Developer, Pearson Edexcel

Sponsors

Pearson

Pearson Edexcel

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

11-19

Theme Inclusion and Diversity including SEND
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Industry, 14-16, Post-16, Trainees, ITEs

15:30 GMT

Build vocabulary and deepen knowledge: teaching Materials with Explorify

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

Chemistry Lab C10 A

We will introduce and model a simple framework for sequencing Explorify activities to help build children’s long-term memory. We will use new and updated activities which elicit children’s existing knowledge and provide opportunities to practice tier 3 science topic specific vocabulary. The Education Endowment Foundation’s research into teaching primary science advocates using vocabulary approaches that promote rich language connections. Explorify’s award winning activities provide this, together with the opportunity for children to verbally explain their thinking. This helps the children refine their understanding and particularly benefits pupils from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We will try practical activities that help build children’s science understanding and experience in the trickier parts of the materials curriculum. Then we will consider how children’s knowledge can be deepened using Explorify activities for retrieval practice and making links with prior learning.

Speakers

Rebecca Ellis

Regional Mentor and Explorify Content Creator, Primary Science Teaching Trust

Joining the Explorify team in 2022, I am now a content creator. I also work part-time as a teacher and science lead at a primary school in Coventry, and part-time as a Regional Mentor in the Midlands for the PSTT. I am also proud to be a PSQM hub leader. Prior to teaching, I was a... Read More →

Jo Moore

Area Mentor, Primary Science Teaching Trust

After some 18 years in teaching, I joined the Primary Science Teaching Trust as an Explorify Engagement Leader. Together with colleagues, I am responsible for content and supporting teachers to use the activities in the classroom. Before joining Explorify, I was a specialist primary... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
Chemistry Lab C10 A

Primary

Theme Curriculum and New Teaching Approaches
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Teacher Developers, Global, Industry, 5 to 7, 7 to 11
Twitter feed @PSTT_whyhow