Science Learning Partnerships

The STEM Learning network supports a vision to achieve a world-leading STEM education for all young people across the UK. Please also see our Computing Hubs page.

STEM Learning's Science Learning Partnerships (SLPs) combine local expertise in teaching and learning in science, facilitating CPD, and providing school-to-school support.

They are led by schools and colleges with cutting-edge expertise in science themselves who collaborate closely with local partners.

What can the Science Learning Partnership (SLP) offer me?

Science Learning Partnerships (SLP) across the country coordinate and facilitate continuous professional development (CPD) in science, combining local expertise in teaching and learning with specific school-to-school support.

There are a variety of opportunities to access science CPD via the SLP, with networks, conferences, courses and standalone sessions running throughout the year. These are designed to provide impactful, subject specific CPD for all members of the science department, from Early Career teachers to heads of department, technicians and even SLT leads and governors.

Where are the regional Science Learning Partnerships?

Thornden School manages the Hampshire and Dorset Science Learning Partnership (SLP), which aims to provide quality, subject specific CPD for Primary, Secondary and FE providers throughout the region.
Downland Community School manages the Sussex and Surrey Science Learning Partnership (SLP).

Led by Thornden School

Email: Steve Smith s.smith@hispmat.org

Website (click here)

@HantsDorsetSLP

Led by Downland Community School

Downlands Community School, Dale Avenue HASSOCKS West Sussex, BN6 8LP

Email: Sussex-SurreySLP@downlands.org

Website (click here)

@downlandslearn

Science Learning Partnership (Sussex and Surrey STEM Learning) at Downlands

Science Learning Partnership at Downlands

Downlands Community School coordinates and manages the Sussex & Surrey Science Learning Partnership (SLP), which provides quality, subject specific continuous professional development (CPD) for primary and secondary schools, and FE providers in the region.

Downlands Community School, Dale Avenue HASSOCKS West Sussex, BN6 8LP

We are your local curriculum hub for science, serving schools and colleges in these areas: Adur, Arun, Brighton and Hove, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Hastings, Horsham, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Rother,
Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley, Wealden, Woking and Worthing.

Science support

We provide teachers, technicians and other educators with high impact, subject-specific professional development in science. We offer:

inspirational professional development, delivered by experienced educators
development of your teaching practice to improve pupil outcomes
bespoke CPD designed to match your development needs
the chance to develop science curriculums
networking opportunities with other schools in our region

Click on the images below to browse courses and training you may be interested in:

Primary CPD

Secondary CPD

Post-16 CPD

Physics support

Meet the team

Mrs Claire Davies – Assistant Head Teacher & Sussex & Surrey SLP Lead

Ms Helen Colvert – Primary Expert

Dr Karen van den Dolder – Secondary Education Lead Administrator

Mrs Gaby Sutton – Surrey Co-ordinator, 6th Form & Further Education Administrator

Mrs Kate West – SLP Marketing Officer, Primary Administrator

Email: Sussex-SurreySLP@downlands.org

Science Learning Partnership at Thornden School

Welcome to the Dorset and Hampshire Science Learning Partnership led by the HISP Multi Academy Trust. We are your local curriculum hub for science, serving schools and colleges in Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Science support

We provide teachers, technicians and other educators with high impact, subject-specific professional development in science. We offer:

inspirational professional development, delivered by experienced educators
development of your teaching practice to improve pupil outcomes
bespoke CPD designed to match your development needs
the chance to develop science curriculums
networking opportunities with other schools in our region

A wealth of CPD can be found by clicking on the images below. Some online courses which may be of particular interest are:

Supporting memory: strategies and techniques to retain and retrieve knowledge in science

Session 1: Tues 21^st November 3.30-4.30pm 
Session 2: Tues 28^th November 3.30-4.30pm 
Session 3: Tuesday 12^th December 3.30-4.30pm 
Session 4: Tues 9^th Jan 3.30-4.30pm

Click here for more information.

Leading on secondary science curriculum design

Session 1: Tues 31^st Oct 3.30-4.30pm 
Session 2: Tues 7^th November 3.30-4.30pm 
Session 3: Tues 14^th November 3.30-4.30pm

Click here for more information.

Subject knowledge enhancement : Physics KS4

Weds 1^st Nov (3:30pm - 4:30pm) 
Weds 15^th Nov (3:30pm - 4:30pm) 
Weds 29^th Nov (3:30pm - 4:30pm) 
Weds 13^th Dec (3:30pm - 4:30pm

Click here for more information.

Subject knowledge enhancement: Chemistry KS4

All 3.45-4.45pm

Thurs 30^th Nov
Thurs 7^th Dec
Thurs 14^th Dec

Click here for more information.

Primary CPD

Secondary CPD

Post-16 CPD

Physics support

Why & How Magazine (The Primary Science Teaching Trust)

Have a look at the recent issue of Why & How Magazine. Plenty of free resources and information regarding science education. It has content specifically designed to support not just science subject leaders, but all teachers. Click on the image or download from the bottom of this page:

Autumn 2023

In this issue:

Learn more about the launch of PSTT’s new strategy and our future plans
Connect pupils with nature through WWT’s Generation Wild project
Discover a visual resource that helps link science and geography
Bring science and art together throughout your school with Explorify's brand-new activity type
Find out where tree restoration has the greatest potential to impact climate change
Celebrate student teachers who completed the Primary Science Enhancement Award for Initial Teacher Education
Gain insight into what a future primary science curriculum could look like
Stay in the know with our important key dates

A picture for talk

Click on the picture to download it. Ask the children to discuss, in groups of three, the following questions:

What does this picture remind you of or make you think about?
What do you think it is? Why do you think this? Can you think of other ideas about what it might be?

After the children have shared ideas about what the picture might be, tell the children that it is a close up photograph, taken from the International Space Station, of a remote island called Kiritimati in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The middle of the island is made up of a series of lagoons which is what the picture shows. Use this Google Earth link or another online map to find the island. Gradually zoom out so the children can see the whole island and where it is on the Earth and back in again so they can see a range of close-up features of the island.