Supporting teachers in the Science Practical Endorsements - Neil Wade

At OCR we believe practical work in science should be a fundamental part of teaching and learning. The new Practical Endorsement allows teachers to choose practical work that complements the teaching of science and incorporate practicals into the relevant points of their curriculum to support learning.

Lead Teachers for A Level Sciences are required to undertake training on Practical Endorsement.

To support this requirement and in preparation for teaching practical skills, we have created an on-line training programme that teachers can complete at their convenience.

The package allows teachers to train at a convenient time, leave at any point, come back to it later and pick up where you left off.

Reflecting the approach that each of the A Level Sciences - biology, chemistry and physics - follow the same format, the training consists of six modules including common modules as well as subject specific modules. The course menu allows you to select the modules that are relevant to you and your students.

Each module can take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete and around an hour for one subject. 

At the end of the courses you will be able to print off a certificate that verifies you have completed the training.

How will you assess the students’ competence? 

The criteria that will be used to assess students competence is the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC). The CPAC have been agreed by all four examining boards as the criteria used to make the holistic judgement as to whether a student has achieved a Pass in the Practical Endorsement.

A student's record of competence in the skills apparatus and techniques is what supports you in making your overall judgement for the Practical Endorsement.

So what’s next?

All of the modules for the on-line training are completed and have undergone detailed testing. They are currently being compiled and uploaded onto the delivery platform, which will log user details, course completion and certification.

Training will ‘go-live” week commencing Monday 16 November.

If you would like to receive updates for the practical endorsement, please sign up to receive email updates.

Join the conversation on Twitter @OCR_Science#positiveaboutpractical    

About the author

Neil Wade - Subject Specialist - Physics

Neil joined OCR in May 2014 having taught GCSE science and A Level physics for the previous 19 years. Neil has represented OCR on the cross-board working group for the Practical Endorsement, looking at its implementation both nationally for all boards and at the OCR approach to practical work in the new specifications.