Education

Publications from the Education and Learning team including reports based on commissioned research that informs our education work and stimulates wider discussion about science education.

Working with Schools in STEM Public Engagement The Wellcome Trust commissioned a report examining the approaches taken by Wellcome Trust-funded research centres when working with schools. This report has informed the production of a set of guidelines for centres and other organisations who work with schools in STEM public engagement.

Primary Science Quality Mark: Learning from good practice in primary science This report presents the results of a scoping project to investigate which questions about the teaching and learning of science in primary schools can be answered using submissions made in the first round (2011) of the Primary Science Quality Mark award programme.

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Perspectives on Education: Effects from accountabilities

Perspectives on Education 'Perspectives on Education' is a series of reports presenting well-argued and evidenced views from across the education sector, with the aim of promoting informed debate. The most recent issue examines the effects of accountability systems.
Previous issues consider inquiry-based-learning, primary science and primary-secondary transfer in science.

A Recommended Code of Governance for Schools The Wellcome Trust has developed 'A Recommended Code of Governance for Schools', working with the National Governors' Association, the National College of School Leadership, Ofsted and DfE. It aims to improve how school governing bodies work, including how they set strategic direction, evaluate their own performance, and hold the headteacher and other senior school leaders to account.

Review of Informal Science Learning The Wellcome Trust commissioned two reports, from GHK Consulting and from Stanford and Oregon State Universities, to review informal science learning in the UK and its value to science education. The Trust responded to these reports with a short commentary.

Evaluation: Big Picture teaching resource In spring 2012, the Wellcome Trust evaluated 'Big Picture', its free publication on bioscience, and explored ways in which it could be developed. We hope that this summary of the main findings will be of use to other organisations developing materials for teachers and students, particularly those interested in offering resources online or for other interactive devices, including mobile phones and whiteboards.

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Working Together: Making STEM happen in secondary schools The Wellcome Trust's Camden science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative was carried out over two academic years, starting in 2009.

This report, 'Working Together: Making STEM happen in secondary schools', presents a series of teaching and learning ideas from Camden schools that we hope will be used by schools elsewhere to develop STEM activities and curricula. It also sets the initiative in a wider context, outlining the importance of STEM education and its impacts on young people.

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Primary Science Survey Report This reports the findings of an online survey run by the Wellcome Trust in July 2011. It asked primary school teachers for their views on the status of primary science, the opportunities available to them and their students, and about any changes since the removal of SATs in England in 2009.

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Acquisition of Science Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Training In 2009, the Wellcome Trust commissioned this study of postgraduate training for secondary science teachers. Most secondary science teachers teach outside their science specialism, and the Trust was interested in how trainees acquire subject knowledge and whether there are variations between institutions.

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Exploring Young People's Views on Science Education This research report was commissioned by the Trust and conducted by NFER in 2011 to look at young people's experiences of science education and how they could be enhanced.

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Darwin Education Initiative As part of the Darwin200 celebrations in 2009 the Wellcome Trust commissioned a range of activities including experiment kits for schools. The Great Plant Hunt for primary schools and Survival Rivals for secondary schools enabled young people to carry out practical investigations about evolution. This evaluation report looks at the impact of these resources.

Download report [ 582 KB]
Download summary [830 KB]

Leading Debate: 21 Years of the National Curriculum for science This seminar summary follows a meeting convened by the Wellcome Trust to mark 21 years of the National Curriculum for science. It is hoped that the five key messages presented in this summary will inform curriculum developers and policymakers when planning their future reforms.

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Subject Choice in STEM: Factors influencing young people (aged 14-19) in education The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust to undertake a systematic review of research about subject choice. The main aim of the review was to examine the factors that influence the STEM subject choices of young people (14-19 years) in education in the UK.

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Attitudes of Children and Parents to Key Stage 2 Science Testing and Assessment This research report was commissioned by the Trust in January 2009 to provide information on parents' and pupils' views of testing and assessment in science at Key Stage 2 (year 6).The report is the first to look at the attitudes and concerns of children and parents on the way science is assessed in primary school.

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Becoming a Teacher: The experiences of STEM teachers The 'Becoming a Teacher' study is a six-year longitudinal study (2003-2009) exploring the progress of teachers from initial training through their early careers. This report looks at experiences and attitudes of teachers of STEM subjects at the end of their fourth year of teaching. Although the differences between these teachers and colleagues in other subjects are generally not significant, issues related to attitudes and career development warrant further investigation.

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Creative Encounters: Feasibility study for a touring exhibition to promote creative learning in science The Wellcome Trust has commissioned a feasibility study to explore the potential for a touring exhibition of creative work involving science and young people. This report reviews existing initiatives and outlines practical options for a contemporary visual arts-based exhibition aimed at stimulating interest and excitement in biomedical science among young people.

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The Effects of National Testing in Science at KS2 in England and Wales: Executive summary This summary report explores the effects of compulsory national testing in science on year 6 teachers and the teaching of science in England, as well as the impact of the abolition of statutory testing in science at KS2 in 2004 on Y6 teachers and the teaching of science in Wales.If you would like a copy of the full report please email: education@wellcome.ac.uk.

Download executive summary [PDF 236KB]

National Science Survey (England): In-service training audit

National Primary Science Survey (England) In-service Training Audit The preliminary report of the NPSS presented information concerning self-perceptions of National Curriculum science from primary head teachers, science coordinators and class teachers across a number of geographically diverse regions of the country.This NPSS Inservice Training Audit was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust and presents a comprehensive and more detailed analysis of the NPSS data pertaining specifically to in-service training issues.

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Evaluation of the National Network of Science Learning Centres: Final report This report presents the findings of the Evaluation of the National Network of Science Learning Centres (SLCs), undertaken between May 2006 and December 2007.

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Believers, Seekers and Sceptics This report is based on a research study that sets out to find out what teachers think about continuing professional development (CPD). 31/01/06

Download briefing report [PDF 320KB]

Primary Horizons: Starting out in science 'Primary Horizons' is based on a research study that sets out to explore teachers' views and experiences of primary science education across the UK and to identify ways in which it could be improved. 12/09/05

Download full report [PDF 2.18MB]

Life Study: Biology A level in the 21st century 'Life Study' is a research report that sets out to understand current views and attitudes towards biology A level from a range of stakeholders and interested parties. 01/10/03

Download full report [PDF 244KB]

Valuable Lessons: Engaging with the social content of science in schools 'Valuable Lessons' is a research report that explores how teachers approach controversial topics raised by science in their lessons. 05/12/01

Download full report [PDF 490KB]