A genuinely balanced programme
Teachers often report low confidence in physics and chemistry and so teach biology most. The programme deliberately balances all three sciences, so schools can demonstrate a balanced curriculum across every year group.
Science support for primary schools done differently
How ABC Science works with your school
From your first email to a full term of wonderful lessons, we do the planning, the kit and the training. You get to teach science you and your class will love.
Register your school’s interest
Step by step
Seven steps from first email to wonderful science lessons
- 1
Get in touch
Tell us the schemes of work you follow and complete the short online enquiry and registration form.
- 2
Choose your investigations
Review the investigations list from our schemes and choose 12 that you would like to run in school.
- 3
Pick your CPD dates
Select the training dates for each term and the 4 investigations that you would like training on in each term, then complete the online pre-training CPD questionnaire.
- 4
Kit arrives
Full class sets of equipment for those lessons are delivered to your school ahead of the training.
- 5
Hands-on training in your school
Our trainer runs the session on your chosen dates — and we fund the cover to release every attending teacher.
- 6
Teach a wonderful term
Deliver amazing science lessons with plans, homework, PPTs, 'how to' videos and assessment guidance behind you.
- 7
Review together
Complete and submit the end of term CPD review so the next term is even stronger.
It’s free. No strings. No catch.
What it costs
We are a charity, so everything described here is free to schools in the Midlands. In time our plan is to roll this model out county by county, nationally.
The model
Using philanthropy to connect expert science teachers in every county with every primary school — to provide regular, consistent, coherent high-quality science CPD every year, plus all of the experimental kit primary schools need to teach outstanding lessons that inspire young people to explore science as a career.
Over the coming years we are determined to significantly increase the number of young people from every background — especially girls — who study science at university and pursue science careers.
All pupils, irrespective of their backgrounds, deserve to have access to the very best and most exciting science lessons every week of the year. Whilst we are primarily focused on schools with the highest percentage of FSM, every state primary school is welcome to apply.
Independent evaluation
What an HMI science adviser said about this model
When the programme was first developed with SciChem, it was evaluated by Ian Richardson, former HMI National Adviser for Science, against Ofsted’s recommendations for primary science. These are the strengths he identified — and they still shape how we work today.
Confidence through clear materials
“Teachers’ uncertainty about the science involved is overcome by the clarity and supportive nature of the materials.” Lessons set out exactly what is needed, so preparation is never a barrier.
Hands-on for every child
Activities are designed for pairs of pupils, so every child gets a genuine ‘hands on’ experience and no one is left out — alongside demonstrations they take part in through observation.
Risk assessed and ready
Practical work is risk assessed, with equipment lists, procedures and safety notes clearly set out for the teacher before the lesson begins.
Differentiation built in
Detailed lesson plans set out aims for all pupils, with further outcomes for most and for some, plus ideas for developing literacy and numeracy in context.
Freedom, not a straitjacket
“The materials are designed to set teachers free to teach effectively.” As confidence grows, teachers adapt lessons to their pupils and make the most of their local environment.
Quotations from the independent evaluation of the programme by Ian Richardson, Richardson Education Consultancy, former HMI National Adviser for Science, and from Ofsted’s Successful Science (January 2011).
Ready to start?
Tell us about your school and we will book your first training session and get your kit on the way.
Register your school’s interest