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

Technicians: Prep room management with waste management

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

This workshop would suit senior/lead techs or lone techs. We will cover some basics of prep room management but with a specific focus on waste management within all sciences. We will look at how we can reduce, reuse, recycle within science and the issues we all face around waste and its safe disposal.

Speakers

Tracy Sherwood-Farnfield RSciTech

Lead Science Technician, The School of Science and Technology (prep room)

I am a Lead technician, with about 17 years experience, currently at a growing comprehensive school in Kent. I started my tech life as a biology technician and althoug I now cover all subjects, biology remains my first love. I am passionate about passing on skills to the next... 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 →

waste not, want not pptx

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

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

11:15 GMT

Using microscale to develop experiments with purpose

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

Despite recent efforts from Ofqual to raise the profile of experiments in terminal GCSE assessments, recent research reviews from Ofsted suggest that teachers frequently focus on substantive knowledge at the expense of detailed understanding of the experimental skills (the working scientifically skills) required to undertake scientific enquiry. Consequently, research nationally and internationally suggests that teachers adopt recipe-style experiments restricting students' curiosity and scientific understanding.

Microscale experiments offer an affordable and safe pedagogic strategy to support teachers move beyond a recipe-based approach to experimentation and support teachers diagnose and challenge the misconceptions held by students. Moreover, our recent research has shown that offering early career teachers professional development, including microscale experiments within their teaching practice, can be revolutionary. However, teachers are yet to adopt microscale experiments readily, given concerns about compliance with terminal examinations.

Through a suite of hands on minds on microscale experiments, this interactive practical session explores how microscale experiments can support delegates to develop enquiry skills as part of their everyday teaching practice. We offer a range of microscale practicals that align with the required practicals in the GCSE and A-level chemistry curricula in England. In doing so, we provide guidance that supports delegates to center working scientifically skills in their teaching and support their students' understanding of the practical components of the chemistry curriculum in England. By attending this workshop, delegates will uncover the power of microscale experiments. Delegates will examine how microscale practicals are valuable time-saving tools that act as a springboard to develop oracy in their classroom. To support delegates embed microscale practicals in their teaching, each attendee will receive copies of 7 GCSE and 4 A-level microscale experimental methods and accompanying worksheets.

Speakers

Robert Campbell

Course Lead PGCE Secondary Science, St Mary's University Twickenham

I am a lecturer in secondary and primary science, having recently spent 10 years teaching in secondary.As a chemistry teacher I am particularly interested in the understanding of symbolism in science education. I completed my masters in how students justify organic chemistry mechanisms... Read More →

Barbara Pearce

St Mary's University Twickenham

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

11-19

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 14-16, Technicians, Trainees, ITEs, Advisors/Consultants
Twitter feed @stmaryssecsci
ECTs Themed sessions ECTs Practical Work

12:15 GMT

Technicians: Climate Change - how to show the effects through practical science

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

Climate change and the effects of pollution are very much hot topics in the new today. Through practical science it is possible for students to observe the efects, be it the rise of atmospheric CO2, the effecto of acid rain or the effect of polluted water courses on aquatic ecosystems. This workshop will show simple but effective experiments that will demonstrate these effects.

Speakers

Rachael Bailey

Science Technician, The Orme Academy

I've been a school science technician since 2010, currently a senior science technician at The Orme Academy part of Shaw Education Trust, previous to this I was a senior analytical chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. I am also part of the North Midlands Science Learning Partnership... Read More →

Sponsors

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

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

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

14:15 GMT

Technicians: Making spirit burners

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

Come and make 2 pieces of kit for GCSE required chemistry practicals, a mini spirit burner and an electrolysis kit, both in microscale to save space and reduce the volume of chemicals used.

Speakers

Tracy Sherwood-Farnfield RSciTech

Lead Science Technician, The School of Science and Technology (prep room)

Sponsors

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

Making electrolysis kit docx

Making Spirit Burners docx

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

Technicians

Theme Practical Work
Key Stage / Audience Type Technicians

08:45 GMT

Wildflower seed bombs- practical approaches using all three sciences

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

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 B

Primary

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

11:15 GMT

Engaging Electricity

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

Chemistry Lab C10 B

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 B

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