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!

08:45 GMT

“I want to be a scientist!" - Children Challenging Industry

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

ESLC B04

Do you want to make science real and relevant, build links with local industries and increase STEM career aspirations? This session will explore why links to real-world contexts are important, as outlined in the EEF's 'Improving Primary Science Guidance Report', and how the Children Challenging Industry programme improves attitudes towards science through connections to the wider curriculum.

This hands-on practical workshop will showcase a variety of free, curriculum-based resources for primary teachers, supporting you to achieve this through the use of industry storylines.

Speakers

Melanie Boyeson

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

Clare Draper

Primary Science Advisory Teacher (East of England), Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC)

Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

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

12:15 GMT

Coding for climate action - empowering students to tackle environmental challenges through computer science

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

ESLC B04

Coding for Climate Action is an innovative cross-curricular program that empowers KS2 and KS3 students to explore climate change issues and design solutions using code and micro:bit inventions. Developed in partnership with Digitall, this comprehensive curriculum provides ready-to-use lesson plans, student journals, slide decks, and other resources to seamlessly integrate computer science into science and sustainability education.

The program is built around an anchoring phenomenon - the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Students are challenged to create early warning systems and other digital solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through this real-world, relevant context, they develop key computational thinking skills like coding, data analysis, and problem-solving, while also cultivating creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Aligned to the national curriculum, the Coding for Climate Action materials include detailed lesson plans, student activity journals, exemplars, and comprehensive curriculum maps. Designed as a plug-and-play unit, the resources make it easy for teachers to swap these engaging climate-focused lessons into their existing schemes of work.

Whether you're looking to inject more climate education into your computing curriculum or bring computational skills into your science lessons, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to empower your students as the next generation of climate leaders and digital innovators. Join us to explore how Coding for Climate Action can ignite students' passion for addressing environmental challenges through computer science.

Speakers

Vojtech Tichavsky

Amazon Future Engineers

Sponsors

Amazon in the Community

Amazon is here to make a difference in the world, in a way unique to Amazon. With a culture built around solving “impossible” problems, we take a different, more hands-on approach to what is traditionally known as corporate philanthropy. We know that money is important, but we... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
ESLC B04

All

Theme Sustainability climate change & environmental issues
Key Stage / Audience Type 11-14, Global, ECTs, Teacher Developers, 7 to 11

15:45 GMT

Flux and stability

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

ESLC B04

How do children’s career aspirations change over time? We know quite a lot about what types of jobs children want to do, but less about how an individual child’s aspirations change over time. This session will present research on the changes in individual children’s career aspirations between 2019 and 2021. We will also discuss the implications of the research for teachers, primary schools and organisations interested in encouraging children to do STEM careers when they are older.

Speakers

Carol Davenport

Director, NUSTEM, Northumbria University

Carol is an Associate Professor and Director of NUSTEM at Northumbria University.Carol began working in education at Barnsley College as a Physics lecturer, and later taught at a large North East school. Moving into teacher education, she worked within the network of Science Learning... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Research
Key Stage / Audience Type Selected by Research Group, ECTs, Industry, Teacher Developers, 5 to 7, 7 to 11
Twitter feed @DrDav; @nustem_uk

16:45 GMT

Meet and Greet the ASE Primary Committee

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

ESLC B04

If you are a primary science educator, come along to the "Meet the Primary Committee" session at the end of Friday of Annual Conference 2024.

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 in Primary Science or one of the ASE journals?

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

Speakers

Angharad Pass

Primary Science Specialist Education Consultant

Friday January 10, 2025 16:45 - 17:30 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Professional Journeys
Key Stage / Audience Type 0-4, 5 to 7, 7 to 11

08:45 GMT

Can I teach primary science? Yes, you can!

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

ESLC B04

How can non-specialists teach high-quality, inspiring, and accurate science lessons confidently in the primary classroom? This session looks at ways to deliver the curriculum and give your pupils a rich science experience even if the last time you were in a lab was your own secondary-school days.

Speakers

Helen Drury

Director of Curriculum Programmes, Ark Curriculum Plus

Dr Helen Drury has been at the heart of the national movement to improve maths education over the last decade. She founded Mathematics Mastery, which now works with over 500 schools nationwide and has proof of significant impact from the Education Endowment Foundation. She holds a... Read More →

Sponsors

Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is the UK’s number one school science publisher. Learning changes lives – and we’re here to drive that change.We support people wherever and however they want to learn, so they can achieve their learning goals and uncover new possibilities. Today, we... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Curriculum and New Teaching Approaches
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, 5 to 7, 7 to 11
Twitter feed @OUPPrimary

09:45 GMT

Practical approaches to teaching AI in Primary Schools

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

ESLC B04

A hands on session looking at ideas for teaching upper primary children about how AI works in different contexts. The session includes:

- Applications of AI
- AI safety in schools
- Exploring BIG Data applications
- Unplugged activities to explore how AI works
- Benefits of AI
- AI ethics
- Environmental impacts of AI

A set of tried and tested resources will be showcased, and shared, designed specifically to support primary aged children develop their understanding of all aspects of AI.

Speakers

Paul Tyler

Owner / Director, My Science Club

Primary school teacher and Science Coordinator in a large primary school just outside Glasgow. Interested in all things primary science, Science Capital transitions to secondary and anything to do with Topical Science and Citizen Science. I produce a monthly Topical Science Update... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 09:45 - 10:35 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Using AI to deliver the science curriculum
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Industry, Global, Teacher Developers, 7 to 11, 11-14
Twitter feed @glazgow

11:15 GMT

Play, Be, C: Supporting STEM in early years

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

ESLC B04

Play is key for young children’s learning, and the world around them is a source of wonder and interest. Using play based methods, NUSTEM have developed a resource to help early years educators introduce young children to STEM careers. The resources are designed to support adults without a science or STEM background to confidently engage children with science and careers.

In this session we will look at why it’s important to introduce STEM careers into early years and how we can help children playfully explore the world around them through the award winning Play, Be, C resource.

Speakers

Carol Davenport

Director, NUSTEM, Northumbria University

Melanie Horan

NUSTEM Primary Outreach Officer, Northumbria University

Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Curriculum and New Teaching Approaches
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 0-4, 5 to 7
Twitter feed @DrDav; @nustem_uk

15:30 GMT

Avoiding Early Misconceptions

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

ESLC B04

This session will look at how to engage EYFS pupils of all abilities with science without introducing misconceptions. We will consider some key topics and ways to teach them through simple but correct explanations and practical experiments. This will be linked to the English National Curriculum, but with applicability to other curricula. There will be an opportunity to share ideas with other EYFS teachers.

Speakers

Christina Arundel

EYFS Lead, Beacon Academy

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
ESLC B04

Primary

Theme Curriculum and New Teaching Approaches
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 0-4, 5 to 7