Earth Science/Geology in UK Schools today Prof Chris King Education Dept, Keele University Director, Earth Science Education Unit Chair, Earth Science Teachers’ Association Secondary Working Group

Earth Science/Geology in UK Schools today  A-level entry  GCSE entry  England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland  What the educational research shows  The Earth Science Education Unit  What HE could do

England and Wales - A-level s A-level entry was falling steadily - it plateaued but fell again last year

England and Wales - A-level s as a percentage of all A-levels - similar

England and Wales - A-level s Falls in comprehensive schools - a plateau in sixth form colleges UK

England and Wales - A-level s Having overtaken Geology, Environmental Science A-level has fallen below Geology recently

E & W - AS-level  New AS-level looked promising - but it is falling too - particularly boys

E & W - AS- A- level figures  2004 A-level Geology  2004 AS-level Geology  2004 Environmental Science (around 1/4 geology)  2004 GCSE Geology  In 2000, 367 centres were teaching A, AS or GCSE Geology  2 Awarding Bodies (Exam Boards -WJEC, OCR) offer A and AS- level  1 Awarding Body (WJEC) offers GCSE Geology

E & W GCSE ( year olds)  92% (583,1000) examined in Science ) Double  71% (450,900) examined in Add Science) Award  7% (46,000) examined in Biology, Chemistry & Physics (- ‘triple award’)  30% (188,400) examined in Geography full courses and 2% (36,200) in short courses  < 1% examined in Env. Science (water cycle, supply and conservation) - AQA (a total of 7,600 students took ‘other sciences, that include Env. Science and Geology)  <1% examined in Geology – WJEC (709)  Earth science% difficult to calculate  Around 1/4 ES/geology  All ES/geology

England and Wales Earth Science education is supported by:  The Earth Science Teachers’ Association, since 1969  The Earth Science Education Forum (England and Wales), since 2002  Earth Science Education Forum - Cymru, since 2006  The Education Committee of the Geological Society, since 2006  The Earth Science Education Unit, since 1999

Scotland  No Earth science is found in the science curriculum  However, Earth science is found in the Geography and Science curricula - taught by primary teachers and Geography specialists  Geology is taught at ‘Higher’ level - at about 40 centres - this number is falling  Because of major concern about the low level of Earth science in Scottish schools, the Scottish Earth Science Education Forum (SESEF) has been formed  A full time Development Officer has been appointed - supported by Scottish Heritage funding

Northern Ireland  The Earth science in the NI National Science curriculum was removed during one of the curriculum revisions  Earth Science in the NI National Geography Curriculum is very limited  The ES2K group has been formed to lobby for geology, first in Northern Ireland and now across all Ireland

Earth science educational research  Most teachers teaching Earth science are biology, chemistry or physics specialists

Earth science educational research  Their background is poor  Most use, as their main resource, science textbooks written for pupils or use their own colleagues

Earth science educational research The government Council for Science and Technology survey supported these findings  Use of information by secondary science teachers  Third party material used by teachers

Earth science educational research  The mean error level in the Earth science content of science textbooks - 1 per page  Major errors shown by teachers - pre-workshop

Earth science educational research  The results of an analysis by Joyce and Showers of 200 studies of the effectiveness of staff development amongst teachers (“Effective” = have some measurable effect on pupils)

The Earth Science Education Unit 90 minute workshops presented to:  secondary science departments across England and Wales  upper primary teachers in Scotland  PGCE science students in teacher training institutions in order to:  enhance their background Earth science knowledge  showcase a variety of engaging Earth science activities  enhance effective use of practical activities in science  develop critical thinking and investigational skills in pupils

The Earth Science Education Unit  Small central team, Director, Administrator, Researcher  Facilitators appointed, trained and available across Great Britain  38 in England/Wales  12 in Scotland  facilitators paid only for workshop delivery  low fixed costs + great flexibility

The Earth Science Education Unit Workshops more than 4,400 teachers - teaching more than 1,080,000 pupils more than 3,200 trainee teachers Ambassadorial events more than 5100 adults more than 4700 children

Most common responses from 2601 workshop questionnaires  Evidence for impact on the day ESEU progress I found the effectiveness of the INSET to be The interest of the INSET was The relevance of the INSET was The value of the INSET to me was High  Low    

ESEU progress Comments from teachers: “I was made to feel enthusiastic about earth sciences, which I never thought would happen.” “the activities were simple enough to use in lessons without major resource implications. ” “Gave me ideas for teaching what can be a 'chalk and talk' subject.” “…good activities will give me much more confidence in classroom…” “An introduction to something I know nothing about.” “I won't think rocks are so boring in future.” “I am appalled that I have been teaching Earth sciences incorrectly - as I got my references/ideas from published science books! This workshop gave me the opportunity to learn more…” “The best INSET day I have ever had.” “…bloody hell - it's clicked, wow!…”

ESEU progress Change in classroom practice (2005):  47 schools contacted a year after workshop  15 responded to questionnaire: 12 had rewritten their Scheme of Work (SoW) to include ESEU activities 2 were in the process of revising their SoW 1 does not have SoW, but were using new ESEU activities  On analysis of levels of use of individual activities: 6 schools showed significant increase 4 schools showed moderate increase 5 schools showed modest increase

What can HE do? Not:  ‘galvanise the Earth Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA)’ But:  support the Earth Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA) and its work with the Earth Science Education Unit And the best method of support is …..

What can HE do? … to encourage your local secondary schools to invite ESEU to present one or more of the free ESEU INSET workshop to them You could do this through:  a schools loan scheme (Leeds)  an undergraduate ambassador scheme (Cambridge)  including an Earth science communication module in your degree (Edinburgh) - and testing it on local schools  employing a part-time person to link to local schools (Derby?) …. WITH THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF INTRODUCING ESEU TO THE SCHOOLS

What can HE do? Attending the ESTA Seminar for Schools Liaison Officers in HE:  Bristol University  Friday 15th September  Part of the meeting a joint one with A-level teachers - to promote a dialogue  Focussed on sharing ideas  £50 for the day  For more details, contact the Conference Organiser, Martin Whiteley -

Earth Science/Geology in UK Schools today Prof Chris King Education Dept, Keele University Director, Earth Science Education Unit Chair, Earth Science Teachers’ Association Secondary Working Group