A Catalyst article about oxygen and how it is essential for most respiration, which goes on all the time in all live cells all living organisms. The article looks at how organisms get the oxygen they need from their surroundings and how it reaches cells. It also explores how oxygen transport is monitored, which of...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. This case study looks at the theme of employer engagement. Loughborough College identified the further provision of apprenticeships as a key goal. This case study investigates the key success factors of a...

This study unit offers some practical strategies that teachers use to improve the climate for learning. The techniques suggested are tried and tested; they draw on both academic research and the experience of practising teachers.

Published by LSIS, this report describes an action research project carried out by Macclesfield College. The research looked at the implementation of a peer observation scheme and its effects on teaching and learning.

Published in 2009 by LSIS, this report describes action research carried out by Greenhead College. The research project was to develop a peer mentoring scheme in chemistry to help students who struggle with the difference in demands that AS courses make compared to GCSE. In turn, it is hoped that this will lead to...

Produced in 2011 by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. From City College Norwich, this case study looks at the theme of equality and diversity. Peer mentoring has proved successful in many professional development projects to enhance the knowledge and...

This document was designed to help school leaders and teachers explore key aspects of personalised teaching and learning and to consider their priorities for further development. For each aspect, there is a section on “How to do this well”, and the guidance was firmly based on practice consistently demonstrated in...

This report, from the Wellcome Trust, defines inquiry-based science learning and explains the importance of developing learning scientific enquiry skills through discussion, questioning, reasoning, gathering data and reviewing evidence. The report stresses the importance of not limiting students' experiences and...

This Catalyst article looks at the process of photosynthesis, by which plants make a range of biochemical compounds. The article explains how photosynthesis actually ties in with growth. Respiration is happening all the time in all cells in all living organisms. Taken on its own, photosynthesis adds materials to...

A Catalyst article about the International Year of Physics, in 2005, also known as Einstein Year. In the century since Einstein’s “annus mirabilis”, when he developed his theory of relativity there has been a revolution in the study of physics. This article explores the links between some of the architects of this...

This report, produced by the Centre for Education and Employment Research (CEER), looks at the decline in students taking physics at A level. Between 1982 and 2006, A level physics entries halved from 55,728 to 27,466. The number of students aged 18 fell and there were more A levels to choose from, but the decline...

A Catalyst article about the video or computer games industry which is now the biggest entertainment-based industry on the planet. Often it is physicists developing new concepts, hardware and games. To beat the competition they need to make physical aspects of the game be more realistic or at least appear to be...

Produced by the Centre for Education and Employment Research (CEER), this report sets out to identify how some schools are increasing participation in post-16 physics whilst the general trend is for a seemingly inexorable decline in physics education. Authors Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson, looked at A level...

This report, produced by the Centre for Education and Emplyment Research (CEER), looks at specialist physics teacher supply and retention in English schools. Physics is at the sharp end of teacher recruitment. It is the subject that schools find most difficult to staff. Some schools do not teach it, and others that...

This report is provided by the Centre for Education and Employment Research (CEER) at the University of Buckingham is based on a survey of 432 schools and colleges. The report looks at the deployment of teachers and its impact on student outcomes. One finding is that teachers' qualification in physics was the most...