Following the establishment of the 1989 National Curriculum (NC) for science, the National Curriculum Council made recommendations to the Secretary of State regarding the revision of Attainments Targets (AT) for science. This document sets out the recommendations for the 1991 NC. The key ideas included:

*A...

A report from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). An initial consultation report in November 1988 proposed an ambitious, broad, integrated approach to a range of design and technology-related subjects explored through a wide variety of contexts. It recognised the complex relationship between the knowledge and...

A report from the National Curriculum Council (NCC). During 1991 it became apparent that teachers were struggling to deliver the requirements of the design and technology National Curriculum, primarily in terms of its conceptual intentions, wide and extensive coverage and issues regarding the re-structuring and...

Prior to 1989 subjects such as CDT (Craft, Design and Technology - still then often called woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing in schools), Home Economics, Textiles (or Needlework) and Electronics were all separate subjects in secondary schools.

Since the introduction of the first National Curriculum...

The National Curriculum for Mathematics was introduced into England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary state schools following the Education Reform Act 1988. The basis of the curriculum and its associated testing was to standardise the content taught across schools in...

Outlined in March 1985 (Science 5-16: A statement of policy DES), one intention of the National Curriculum was that all students aged 5 to 16 learn science – so there should be ‘Science for All’ in primary and secondary level education. The science taught should include both the ‘methods of science’ and the...

This booklet was written to provide a guide to the National Curriculum for students in compulsory education, those aged five to sixteen. Published in 1989, it examines the legal requirements of the curriculum in the light of the Education Reform Act (ERA) of 1988. Chapters aim: • to show how the ERA requirements...

This report, prepared for the Wellcome Trust in January 2008, presents the results of an audit of in-service training accessed by science teachers across regions of the UK. The data gathered provided a picture of what training was available, and the uptake of training.

Key findings showed various causes for...

In 2015-16, the regional Network has been found to have sustained a strong upward trajectory in the amount of CPD that it is delivering, increasing its level of CPD delivery by 45% compared to 2014-15, and surpassing the levels of CPD delivery achieved in previous years.  

The Network has also forged new...

The National Science & Engineering Week quizzes are an easy and popular way of taking part in the celebrations in March. The quizzes are available in two different formats, a multiple choice quiz, a questions only quiz. The quiz also has two levels. The multiple choice quiz is designed for everyone, we have,...

Published in July 2015, this report from the ISOS Partnership evaluates the implementation and impact of the third phase of the National Science Learning Network’s regional programme.

The full collection of STEM Learning impact and evaluation research reports can be viewed...

This collection of resources were developed by the National Numeracy Strategy which itself arose out of the National Numeracy Project in 1996. This project was led by a Numeracy Task Force including the director, Anita Straker. The strategy included an outline of expected teaching in mathematics for all students...

This group of activities, based around trees can enhance the teaching of aspects of both the science and mathematics curriculum.  They range from resources to help identify different leaves, such as leaf bingo, to activities collecting and...

Ideas and resources for STEM activities for National Tree Week for primary and secondary pupils.

This collection includes a set of resources which use the context of trees to help teach areas of mathematics and science.  They include:

• Using counting trees as an example of how to estimate populations
• articles from the popular Catalyst magazine about horse chestnut trees
• a Crest...