November Teaching Science update

NEW - The Science Emporium

We have recently launched the Science Emporium for teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel science qualifications. The Emporium contains all the most popular and useful documents that we have available for GCSE, A level and International GCSEs such as our specifications, exam materials and also practical support to help you to deliver your courses. It also has forums where you can communicate with other teachers.

To gain membership to the Science Emporium you will need an Edexcel Online Account. Once you have this you can then register with the Emporium with your EOL email address. If you don't have an EOL account, your exams officer will be able to create one for you.

GCSE Physics and Combined Science equation sheets

The Ofqual consultation on proposed adaptations to the assessment of GCSEs in mathematics, physics and combined science for students in England taking exams in 2023 closed on 20 October. The feedback from the consultation is presently being analysed by Ofqual and we will let you know once the outcome is available.

GCSE Science Summer Series 2022 Examiner Report highlights event - Live!

A free live event is taking place the 29 November 4-5.30pm on 'GCSE Science Summer Series 2022 Examiner Report highlights'. Please see description provided below with training link to book your place.

Description
Join presenter Keith Penn and Andy Woods, from the Pearson Edexcel Science Team, who will be taking you through some key learning points from the GCSE Science 2022 summer series. The event will include key 'takeaways' from all three of the sciences within the combined science papers and exemplar questions/answers from the higher and foundation tiers - showing common errors and examples of good practice by students this year. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! This event can count as 1.5 hours of CPD. You will receive an e-certificate by email, post attendance.

Please note: a recording of the event will be available to attendees only.

To book your place, please visit our training page.

Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Science Online Network 'Optimising retrieval practice in science with Adam Boxer'.
21 November 2022 at 16:00-17:30 GMT

Top trainer and best-selling author Adam Boxer returns to join us at Pearson Edexcel for our second GCSE Science Network of the Autumn term. This training is open to all science teachers regardless of their current awarding body. In this event Adam will be delving into the finer details of retrieval practice and will be sharing some great ideas to optimise it for your students.

In the session he will cover:

• Theory of retrieval practice
• Application in the classroom
• Starters
• Using prerequisite knowledge checks
• Interleaved practice
• How to use homework effectively with retrieval practice

Places are capped at this FREE event so if you'd like to join us, please register today.

Please note: a recording of the event will be available to attendees only.

Practical work in GCSE and A level Sciences

As mentioned in a previous news item, for the 2023 cohort Ofqual have confirmed the usual arrangements for practical science.

This means that we will go back to arrangements that were in place pre-Covid where core practicals/observations are expected to be carried out as normal.

This also means Headteacher declaration/observation forms will also be required - these are available on our qualification pages.

Practical support can also be found on the qualification pages under 'Course Materials' in the 'Teaching and Learning materials' section. This includes worksheets for GCSE and A level Sciences amongst other useful teaching materials.

A level Science Lab books: You maybe interested to know that the A level Lab books have been reworked by the Pearson publishing team. The new editions are now mapped to the CPAC tracking spreadsheet and have more space for students to show independent planning and are now available from the publishing site.

View from the Lab podcast 'How to use virtual experiments to support traditional practical work'

Our latest 'View from the Lab podcast’ is now available on 'How to use virtual experiments to support traditional practical work'.

International Science qualification training opportunities

Please see the tables below for upcoming training until January 2023. Additional Spring-term training events can all be viewed from the Professional Development Academy (PDA) pages. Please note, sometimes dates/times of events may need to change but the most up-to-date information will always be on the PDA page so please keep an eye on this page.

We are recruiting KS3 authors

Pearson is developing a new KS3 Science assessment product. We're looking for teachers and subject experts to help us create engaging, effective and inclusive assessment content. If you're interested, please complete the form below.

BTEC Assessment 2022-2023

If you are teaching BTEC qualifications then arrangements for 2023 are described in the update below.