Thank you to all those who managed to attend the Secondary Sciences Network Meeting (Teams on Glow) on 05 October.

Those attending identified the following priorities for the network for the year ahead:

• BGE – curriculum design and assessment
• Skills progression and tracking
• Improving career and course advice (including pathways such as Environmental Science/ NPAs/ Apprenticeships
• Multi-level teaching
• Pedagogy
• Designing A-type questions
• ASN – differentiation and resources

We hope to theme the live sessions and discussions around these topics over the coming months. The purpose of the network is to facilitate sharing, dialogue and collaboration between schools so if you have resources, approaches or practice to share on the aspects listed above then please email: stem@educationscotland.gov.scot – we’d be very keen to hear from you.

NEXT up: Environmental sciences webinar on 15 November (4.45pm to 5.45pm)

The session will be hosted on the Secondary Sciences Network Team (Joining code: uh9sf32). To register: https://bit.ly/3ft8YXt

During the session, SQA colleagues will share an update and teachers will share their experience of delivering Environmental Science courses.

Network focus for November: New qualifications and assessment consultation

The Scottish Government consultation on the new qualifications (Hayward Review) is now open: https://www.gov.scot/publications/professor-haywards-independent-review-qualifications-assessment/pages/2/ .  Responses to this consultation should be submitted by 16 December 2022. Our network discussion will focus on this theme throughout November. What are your hopes, ideas and suggestions for the review and the future of sciences qualifications? How can sciences qualifications best meet the needs of all learners? Please post your thoughts and ideas into the network chat.

STEM Nation Award

Passionate about STEM and looking to make a whole school commitment? Education Scotland’s STEM Nation Award Programme can help you on your journey. To register and find out the support that is available visit: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/stemnation/stemnation-awards/

DYW LIVE Programme for COP27 (14^th to 17^th November)

Sustainability and climate change will be key to all jobs in the future. Join our COP27 DYW Live Programme to hear from six inspiring employers who are putting climate change at the heart of their business including construction, transport, energy, fashion, finance, agriculture and forestry: https://www.e-sgoil.com/dyw-live-cop27-homepage/

Resources

• Handy resource guide – download these handy sciences resources guides for teachers and learners:

Secondary Sciences Resources for Teachers Nov 2022

Secondary Sciences Resources for Learners Nov 2022

• STEM resources directory – a full listing of all the professional learning support and resources for STEM in Scotland for this term: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/stemnation/stem-resources/
• See our fortnightly planner for a fuller list of resources: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2022/11/01/fortnightly-planner-1-11/

 SQA Connections (7 – 10 November)

A series of free online information sessions which will help you learn about qualification updates, get insights into new developments, and develop ideas for the future. More than 20 sessions are available – some have a subject-specific focus while others consider broader topics such as meta-skills, SCQF learner pathways, systems verification and the SQA Centre Hub. Full list of sessions: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/QualityNetwork-Programme-2022.pdf . To book: https://bit.ly/3FKfHH5. New users will need to register first.