Members' Blogs

Oracy, the Digital Divide and AI Equity

By Tim Bradbury posted 4 days ago
This month our Focus of the Month is all about Oracy in STEM, and it ties in perfectly with our latest episode of STEM Community Live: AI Sprints where we were joined by Kate Paradine, CEO of Voice 21, and Daniel Emmerson from the Good Future Foundation. If you haven't watched it yet, the session is now available on demand , and it is well worth an hour of your time. It was packed with insight, practical advice and some honest reflections on what learners really need from us in a world rapidly becoming shaped by AI. Below is a summary of the key themes that came out of the conversation and why they matter for STEM classrooms right now. Why oracy needs ...

Weekly news round up: 18/11/25

By Tim Bradbury posted 5 days ago
Weekly UK education briefing • STEM-first • De-duplicated STEM Staffroom Briefing (12–18 Nov 2025) “Different mode” edition — short headline cards with tight summaries, STEM takeaways, quick wins and reflection prompts. Links go straight to the original reporting. AI-set attendance targets for every school DfE will use AI to generate non-public , context-aware attendance improvement targets per school; schools missing them may be referred for support. Schools Week STEM takeaway: convert marginal attendance gains into practical learning with a published “missed-practical ladder” and a parallel route for missed code labs. 36 new attendance ...

Responsible AI Teaching - Part 5: How AI can help students prepare for the world of work

By Tim Bradbury posted 10 days ago
What role will AI play in shaping the careers of today’s students? That’s the question explored in the final Five-Minute CPD Drop , created with the Good Future Foundation . In this episode, Alex looks at how AI can act as a personal tutor, critical friend, and career guide — not replacing human effort or decisions but supporting young people as they take their next steps. AI as a career companion Traditionally, career intelligence was the domain of specialists and one-off guidance sessions. Today, AI makes it easier than ever to: Explore industries, roles, and pathways based on students’ interests and skills Understand required ...

Oracy and Scientific Literacy – Giving Pupils a Voice in Science

By Tim Bradbury posted 11 days ago
With thanks to @Schools Engagement at The Royal Society. This month our Focus of the Month is Oracy in STEM, and there has never been a better time to talk about talk. The importance of oracy in developing scientific understanding has taken centre stage in two major reports published this year: the Royal Society’s Review on Scientific Literacy and Oracy in Primary Education and the Curriculum and Assessment Review . Both highlight the need for pupils to learn through talk, not just about it. The Royal Society’s review, led by Professor Sarah Earle of Bath Spa University, explores how discussion, questioning and reasoning help children build ...

Weekly news round up: 11/11/25

By Tim Bradbury posted 12 days ago
STEM in the Headlines: Weekly Round-Up for UK Teachers 5–11 November 2025 Welcome back to your weekly look at what’s been happening across the education news landscape, with a particular eye on STEM and post-16. This week has been dominated by the curriculum and assessment review , government responses, and the knock-on effects for science, maths, computing and technical education – plus some important stories about SEND, NEETs, Ofsted and AI. Everything here comes from the sites you asked about (BBC Education checked but not directly scrapable, Sky News, Schools Week, FE Week, Tes and EEF), and only stories published between 5 and 11 November 2025 are ...

Larry Lamb back to school

By Tim Bradbury posted 13 days ago
The UK stops learning at 51 – but Larry Lamb’s trip back to school with Samsung proves it's never too late The Department for Education’s National Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report has reignited conversation about the future of Design and Technology (D&T) in schools, and with good reason. Once a vibrant space for creativity, curiosity and problem-solving, D&T has struggled in recent years, with falling GCSE entries and outdated perceptions of what the subject offers. The review calls for a renewed focus on social responsibility, inclusive design and real-world application, principles that sit at the heart of Samsung’s Solve for ...

The Colours of Fire – Bonfire Night Chemistry in Action

By Tim Bradbury posted 19 days ago
As Bonfire Night lights up the skies, it is the perfect time to bring a little safe sparkle into the classroom with a colourful chemistry demonstration. This simple but striking experiment shows how different metal salts produce vivid flame colours when burned, from the crimson of lithium to the bright green of copper. In this demonstration, ethanol is added to a series of beakers containing small amounts of metal salts. When ignited, each produces its own distinctive colour, the result is a beautiful rainbow of fire. CLEAPSS provides clear safety guidance for this activity and it is important to follow their Special Risk Assessment (SRA 028, March 2025). ...

Weekly news round up: 04/11/25

By Tim Bradbury posted 19 days ago
Weekly UK education long-read • STEM-first • 15-minute read STEM Staffroom Briefing: 28 October – 4 November 2025 At a glance Estates & safety: RAAC removal deadline set for 2029 ; ministers promise estates strategy “very soon” after select committee grilling ( 6 takeaways ). Capital & funding: DfE finally explains the opaque Strategic School Improvement Capital pot ( what schools need to know ); government evidence floats a 6.5% teacher pay rise over three years . Inspection & accountability: High Court rejects NAHT’s judicial review over Ofsted report cards. Attendance & behaviour: DfE minister rebuffs petition ...

Focus of the Month: Oracy in STEM

By Tim Bradbury posted 20 days ago
Focus of the Month: Oracy in STEM We’re back with another Focus of the Month here in the STEM Community, and for November we’re turning our attention to Oracy. Talking, listening and reasoning are at the heart of great all STEM subjects, and wile we all love a quiet learning environment it can be easy to forget just how powerful classroom talk can be. When pupils talk about their thinking, they learn to connect ideas, question assumptions and explain what they know. Oracy isn’t just about speaking clearly, it’s about learning through talk. Whether it’s a Year 2 pupil describing what they notice during an investigation, or a Year 10 student arguing which evidence ...

Calling all secondary teachers and educators! Join us at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust: Steart Marshes in Somerset for a unique resource co-creation workshop

By Jenny Toft-Eriksen posted 22 days ago
Are you passionate about outdoor learning and STEM education? Would you like to help shape exciting new resources that bring nature to life for your students? The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Steart Marshes is teaming up with STEM Learning to develop a suite of engaging educational materials for secondary aged students and we want you to be part of it! What’s h appening? We’re hosting a co-creation workshop at WWT Steart Marshes , where local educators will collaborate with STEM Learning to design five brand-new sets of resources ...

Spooky Science Experiments - Halloween Fog in a Bottle

By Shameel Khan posted 23 days ago
Happy Halloween! Our lab technicians are back with another spine-tingling science experiment, and this one’s guaranteed to cause a stir (and a little fog) in your classroom. Using hydrogen peroxide and a dash of manganese (IV) oxide, this classic demonstration rapidly decomposes the solution to release heat, oxygen gas, and steam, creating a dramatic Halloween Fog Effect ! It’s a brilliant way to capture attention and spark curiosity about chemical reactions, decomposition, and energy changes… all with just the right amount of Halloween magic. This demonstration is a fantastic example of how chemistry can be brought to life in an exciting way. 🎥 ...

Spooky Science Experiments - 'Water' into Vampire Blood

By Shameel Khan posted 23 days ago
With Halloween just around the corner, our brilliant lab technicians have been brewing up some spooky science fun! From mysterious colour changes to bubbling potions, Halloween offers the perfect opportunity to bring a little magic (and a lot of learning) into the classroom. Ever wondered how to make water* (Hydrogen peroxide) look like vampire blood ? Our technicians have put together a simple, safe experiment that shows pupils how chemistry can transform everyday substances into something spectacular. It’s a fun way to explore reactions, observe changes, and spark curiosity about the science behind them. So whether you’re planning a themed ...

Responsible AI Teaching - Part 4: Safe and ethical AI use for secondary school students

By Tim Bradbury posted 24 days ago
How do we prepare secondary students to use AI safely and responsibly outside the classroom? That’s the focus of our latest Five-Minute CPD Drop , created in partnership with the Good Future Foundation . In this video, Alex draws on insights from a focus group of UK secondary teachers to explore the challenges of AI in both supervised (school) and unsupervised (home/online) environments. Key themes from teachers From our discussions, three big issues stood out: Ethics & safeguarding Teachers want frameworks for ethical AI use, balancing opportunities for learning with clear safeguarding measures. Unsupervised ...

Supporting teenagers with the BBC Bitesize Guide to AI

By Tim Bradbury posted 27 days ago
A new BBC Bitesize and 5 Live Teen Summit Survey has revealed some interesting – and important – insights into how young people are feeling about AI. Around a third (30%) of teenagers are worried about AI’s impact, particularly on careers, creativity and the spread of misinformation. A quarter (24%) also said they struggle to know where to go to learn about AI or how best to use it. So how can we help teenagers embrace AI’s potential while also recognising the challenges it presents? To support young people, BBC Children’s and Education has launched the Bitesize Guide to AI – a collection designed to help 14–19 year olds thrive in an AI world. The guide ...

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025 – Dare to Discover

By Tim Bradbury posted 23-10-2025
STEM Community | Careers & Inspiration Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025 – Dare to Discover Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is a highlight of the STEM calendar. This year’s theme Dare to Discover invites students to explore, experiment and build resilience by learning through trial and improvement. I sat down with Dr Hilary Leevers , Chief Executive of EngineeringUK , to unpack what the theme means in practice and how you can bring it to life in your classrooms. Watch the conversation to hear practical ways to build curiosity, creativity and resilience in STEM. Key themes from the conversation Reframing failure : Setbacks are not ...

What will you be when involved in learning activities?

By Tim Bradbury posted 22-10-2025
“In response to large between-schools differences in SEND identification, we recommend that training in child development and different types of SEND should be mandatory in initial teacher training and early career development, and prioritised in development for experienced teachers. Such training is not currently part of the core content framework requirements.” Identifying SEND: Final Report on Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, Hutchinson, Downs & Ford (2025) SEND-Final-Report-version-FINAL-04.02.2024-2.pdf After a busy September working with teachers at the very start of their journey, and hearing inclusion conversations across many school ...

Celebrating Mole Day in the STEM Community

By Tim Bradbury posted 22-10-2025
Every year on 23 October, between 6:02 am and 6:02 pm, the chemistry world celebrates Mole Day. The date is a nod to Avogadro’s number (6.02 × 10²³), a constant that underpins so much of chemistry. However Mole Day is more than a quirky date in the calendar. It is a chance to explore one of the most challenging concepts for students, to make the abstract tangible, and to bring creativity into the classroom. Why celebrate Mole Day? As Sarah Sephton explained in her STEM Community blog , many students see mole calculations as a source of worry. A dedicated celebration provides an opportunity to slow down, unpick the concept, and even have some fun with it. ...

Weekly news round up: 21/10/2025

By Tim Bradbury posted 21-10-2025
STEM Staffroom Briefing: 15–21 October 2025 At a glance System reform season: Skills white paper headlines drop for FE/skills (new 16–19 funding model; barring “unsuitable” leaders); schools white paper trails behaviour expectations and grouping of schools. New route at 16–19: Government signals “V Levels” alongside A- and T-levels; FE voices outline opportunities and risks. AI in classrooms: DfE to encourage AI tutors ; trusts continue to trial teacher-avatar catch-up (pedagogy, safety, ethics in play). SEND & funding pressures: Trust cashflow strains hit headlines; teachers raise concerns planned SEND reforms could worsen the ...

Double Disadvantage – when poverty and SEND collide

By Tim Bradbury posted 21-10-2025
This month’s Focus on SEND in mainstream education aligns with a new Sutton Trust report and coverage in Schools Week . Both point to a pattern many teachers already recognise. Pupils with SEND from lower income families are more likely to need support, yet less likely to secure an EHCP or access a special school place. ( Schools Week ) The Sutton Trust’s Double Disadvantage? research brief sets out the scale and texture of the issue. Nationally, 25.7% of pupils are eligible for Free School Meals, but this rises to 39.3% for pupils on SEND Support and 43.8% for those with an EHCP . Within this cohort, more affluent families are more likely to obtain EHCPs, ...

Responsible AI Teaching - Part 3: How to speak to Primary students about AI

By Tim Bradbury posted 16-10-2025
How do we help children speak confidently about artificial intelligence in the primary classroom? That’s the question behind our latest Five-Minute CPD Drop , created in collaboration with the Good Future Foundation . In this video, Alex explores how oracy – structured speaking and listening – can become a powerful tool for developing AI literacy in schools. Why oracy matters Voice 21, a leading UK oracy charity, describes it as empowering students to become better speakers and listeners so they can understand themselves, each other, and the world around them. Today, that world includes algorithms shaping children’s YouTube ...