High-quality professional learning plays a crucial role in primary STEM. It builds teacher confidence, strengthens subject knowledge and helps ensure that children have rich, meaningful experiences in science, maths, computing and D&T. For many primary teachers – who are expert generalists but not always STEM specialists – targeted CPD can make a real difference to what happens in the classroom.
When teachers feel confident, pupils benefit. STEM learning becomes more exploratory, more connected to real life and more focused on thinking, talking and making sense of the world around them.
At STEM Learning, our CPD is designed to be practical, relevant and easy to apply straight away. We’re aware that there are plenty of barriers to accessing professional development. That’s why STEM Learning offers a range of ways to engage, making it easier for teachers to take part. Whether that’s joining fully funded computing courses through the National Centre for Computing Education, immersing yourself in a two day residential course, learning from expert led live online sessions, or accessing self paced courses that fit around your day to day workload.
If you’re looking to develop your practice, here are five opportunities to explore:
1. The National Primary STEM Conference at the incredible National STEM Learning Centre in York is a great chance to get inspired, hear from experts and take away practical ideas you can use immediately.
2. We know that great primary science starts with great leadership. Our two-day residential Leading primary science course supports subject leaders to develop their vision, strengthen teaching and build staff confidence across the school.
3. If you’re focusing on maths, the live online Primary maths: Reasoning and problem solving course helps you support pupils to use effective strategies to encourage logical thinking and provides suggestions to create a classroom environment which promotes curiosity and critical thinking.
4. Our Teaching datalogging with apps and micro:bits course shows practical ways to bring digital data collection and real-world STEM into your classroom.
5. And if you need flexibility, the self-paced Primary Design and Technology online course package lets you build confidence at your own pace while exploring the skills, knowledge and practical approaches needed to teach primary D&T.
Find more of our primary STEM professional development offer and book onto upcoming courses here.
We’re always keen to learn what works best for teachers. Comment below and let us know what makes it easier or harder for you to access high quality STEM CPD?