What a brilliant way to start the year…!
Last week, our Chair Andrew Heath and Foundation Director Rebecca Levy attended the Association for Science Education (ASE) Annual Teacher and Technician Science Conference at the University of Nottingham. Bringing together hundreds of teachers, technicians, researchers, industry partners and subject specialists, the conference is the UK’s largest gathering dedicated to strengthening science education.
Over three days, the programme featured more than 220 sessions, spanning every corner of science teaching: Primary and 11–19, Teacher Developers, Technicians, Early Career Teachers, Post‑16, Leadership, International perspectives, and Biology Education Research Group (BERG) sessions. Attendees were able to explore a rich range of professional development opportunities, hands‑on sessions and future‑focused discussions.
Key Themes from the Programme
Practical science & pedagogy
Workshops such as “Bridging practical skills gaps” and “Making the Grade: Demystifying high demand science questions” offered practical strategies to strengthen classroom delivery and boost student confidence. Our Director, Rebecca found it interesting to observe making the grade: Demystifying high demand science questions, where teachers discussed the intricacies of language and difficulties of the questions being presented to students.
“Language is so important when answering a chemistry exam paper – teachers aren’t just teaching the science, but also the language skills in order for students to get the highest marks” (Rebecca Levy – Foundation Director).
Policy and curriculum development
A major highlight was the international keynote “The OECD Teaching Compass: Navigating curriculum change and teacher agency in a complex world”. Discussions around the Government’s curriculum review surfaced important questions about triple science, assessment pressure, teacher recruitment and retention — all central to the future of science education.
Inclusion, diversity & global science education
Sessions on special educational needs and disability (SEND) inclusion, global STEM perspectives and environmental education highlighted the importance of designing learning that is accessible, meaningful and globally relevant. These discussions were led by The Lightyear Foundation’s CEO Jeff Banks.
Technician‑focused development
Friday’s dedicated Technicians Day, sponsored by Philip Harris, provided invaluable training on lab safety, practical setup, resource management and subject‑specific technical expertise — a reminder of the crucial role technicians play in every science department.
Inspiration & community building
Saturday’s “Inspiration and Community” sessions encouraged collaboration across research communities, professional networks and subject‑specific working groups.
A Day of Connection and Insight
Andrew and Rebecca spent the day meeting teachers, technicians, science leaders and ASE working groups. Conversations repeatedly emphasised the shared goal of creating equitable, engaging and high‑quality STEM learning for young people across the UK — a mission deeply aligned with our work at the Spectris Foundation.
From the exhibition halls packed with innovative resources and digital tools, to informal networking moments between sessions, the atmosphere was one of energy, generosity and genuine commitment to the future of science education.
A huge thank you to the ASE team for hosting such an inspiring and energising conference. It was fantastic to see the impact of your work in action and to connect with so many passionate educators driving STEM education forward.
We look forward to continuing our support for teachers and technicians and to championing STEM opportunities for the next generation.
