Oldham Primary Science Subject Leader Regional Network: 2025-2026 Meetings

We work with a range of people to fascinate young people and their communities about the wonders of science and engineering in the world around us. If you teach primary or secondary science, are involved in science education or communication, are a school senior leader or governor, academic, research scientist/engineer or a business in science or engineering then the Hub will be of interest to you.Located within the University of Manchester’sFaculty of Science & Engineering, we bring our expertise, built up over nearly 20 years to work with schools across Greater Manchester.  By focusing on the development of in-service teachers with a range of dynamic partners we are relentless in our drive to inspire, fascinate and improve the teaching and learning of science in our schools today. Our remit is mainly primary school science curriculum and professional development.

FASCINATE: Science and Engineering Education Innovation and Research Hub

Bookings are open for all three termly meetings of the SEERIH Oldham Primary Science Subject Leader Regional Network 2025-2026.

Oldham Event Centre

Please note that this Network is open to schools who are in Oldham.SEERIH, at The University of Manchester, is a specialist hub which supports teacher development.To facilitate forward planning in schools, all three meetings are open to book now. Please book tickets for the sessions you are able to attend. We encourage teachers attend all sessions wherever possible, in order to get the most out of the experience.The network welcomes new and established primary science subject leaders of all experience levels to:<ul><li>share and improve practice</li><li>speak with other subject leaders in your region about the issues that are affecting each of you.</li><li>engage in expert-led professional development inputs to support you with up-to-date issues, skills and resources.</li></ul>Attending these termly networks is an interactive and practical way to help you to:<ul><li>tackle the issues in your school's science curriculum</li><li>support you in your role as a leader</li><li>raise the profile of science</li><li>improve the outcomes for your pupils.</li></ul>Expectations of attending the network include engaging with pre-course tasks/reading and submitting your response to a gap task. This is a compulsory element of the network to ensure the CPD is meaningful and impactful. Your timetable:Autumn term meeting: 13 November 2025, 13:00-16:00Purposeful and Practical Primary sciencePractical work is a distinctive aspect of science teaching, but its role in primary science isn't always clear, with teachers often unsure how to use it most effectively to support learning. This session explores a range of potential purposes for practical work in primary science, with a key focus on ensuring the intended science learning is explicit and focused.Outcomes:<ul><li>To know when and how to make good use of practical work to enhance learning in science</li><li>To understand how to plan for these opportunities</li><li>To explore a host of practical ideas and activities matched to the current National Curriculum for primary science.</li></ul> Spring term meeting: 5 March 2026, 13:00-16:00What a good one looks like – Moderating primary scienceAssessment is at the heart of teaching and learning. This half-day session will provide an opportunity to compare work across year groups and develop a clear understanding of progress and what ‘secure’ looks like in each year group. Discussions with other science leaders will ensure next steps in science can be identified, leading to greater cohesion across the whole school.Outcomes:<ul><li>To explore current best practice in primary science assessment and understand current assessment expectations</li><li>To explore approaches to whole school science moderation</li><li>To be able to assess working scientifically.</li></ul> Summer term meeting: 11 June 2026, 13:00-16:00The STEAMy relationship between art and science!Teaching pupils to think both critically and creatively is key to the development of a society which understands and is fully engaged with the world around them. It’s important to provide our pupils with enough knowledge and understanding of the world around them so they make informed decisions: i.e. they are scientifically literate. This session aims to prepare our future scientists and technologists- in a range of creative contexts, including art.Outcomes:<ul><li>To experience a host of practical ideas for teaching science</li><li>To cultivate, develop and raise science capital through a creative, cross-curricular approach</li><li>To extend and enrich science activities for all ages across the primary school.</li></ul>