Technical Drawing Courses in Secondary Schools: an HMI Discussion Paper
This paper gives an account of a survey, carried out by HM Inspectors in 1980-81, looking at technical drawing and other drawing office based courses in secondary schools. They also visited 11 industrial companies and 15 institutions of further and higher education to discuss their expectations of students in terms of technical drawing…
National Assessment: The APU Science Approach
In this publication, the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) set out how it was to approach the assessment of science teaching and learning in schools. The APU was set up to promote the development of method of assessing and monitoring the achievement of children at school, and to seek to identify the incidence of under-achievement.…
APU Science Report for Teachers 4: Science in Schools, Age 13
The APU report number 4 for teachers presents, in concise form, some of the data and findings of the APU surveys of students aged 13. It includes an outline of the assessment framework, some of the questions which were written to match it, a description of how well, and how differently, students responded to them and suggestions…
Maths and Science Education: the Supply of High Achievers at A Level
This paper, from the Department of Education (DfE), presented a comprehensive set of statistical analyses building up a picture of the production function for the supply of young people in England with good A levels in mathematics and science. In this way, the questions addressed are focused towards high attainers in these subjects,…
A World-class Mathematics Education for All our Young People
This report was the result of a request to Carol Vorderman from David Cameron and Michael Gove for advice on mathematics education at the time the Conservative Party was in opposition. A small voluntary task force was formed and worked with organisations and individuals (including students and parents) in the course of the completion…
Subject Progression from GCSE to AS Level and Continuation to A Level
This report, by the Department for Education, provides an analysis of the proportion of students taking GCSE and progressing to AS Level in the same subject (that is, progression rates), focussing on English Baccalaureate subject areas. The report then follows the same cohort through from AS to full A level achievement. Data…
Second Report of the Independent Review of Teachers' Standards
This report sets out the recommendations of an independent Review of Teachers’ Standards, chaired by Sally Coates. The review was launched by the Secretary of State in March 2011 with a remit to review the existing framework of professional standards for teachers. The Review Group comprises excellent teachers, head teachers…
Scientific Enquiry and its Place in the National Curriculum
This is a report of a SCORE workshop held in September 2011 at the Royal Society to explore the place of scientific enquiry in the national curriculum. The report summarises the main issues raised and describes the views of the participants. The workshop was chaired by Libby Steele, Head of Education at the Royal Society. The group…
Aspects of Primary Education: the Teaching and Learning of Science
Published in 1989 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate (HMI), this report looks at the changes in science teaching from the mid-seventies to the late-eighties and discusses how further improvements could be achieved. It is based on observations made by HMI during the inspection of 300 primary schools in England, and from evidence about…
Assessing Your Needs in Science
Published by the Teacher Training Agency, these assessment materials provide an opportunity for schools and individual teachers to identify areas of subject knowledge which need further training and development. Developed by teams including teachers, inspection and advisory staff and higher education tutors, they are aimed primarily…
Technology and School Science: an HMI Enquiry
This enquiry into technology and school science was conducted by HMI. The report was published in 1985. The enquiry was concerned not only with the specific technology courses offered by science departments but also sought to obtain details of any attempts being made to develop technology across the curriculum, within the general…
Design and Technology: the National Curriculum - Key Stages 1-4 (1999)
The 1999 edition of the Design and Technology National Curriculum included set out clearly the programmes of study and attainment targets for Key Stages One to Four. It sets out the importance of design and technology education to students' performance across the curriculum in promoting social, moral and cultural development…
Add-ons
Add-ons are part of the T5 (‘Targeting level 5’) pack. There are twelve Add-ons, each covering one of the major areas of mathematics drawn from the level 4–6 Key Stage Three National Curriculum test papers, with a particular emphasis on those areas crucial for achieving level 5. Each Add-on includes four to seven…
Early Entry to GCSE Examinations
This paper, from the Department of Education, presents statistical information on the difference in final grades between those students who are entered early for GCSE examinations and those who are not. The potential impacts associated with early entry are highlighted for consideration, by those responsible for the decision, on whether…
Report by HM Inspectors on British School Technology 1986
This report by HM Inspectors begins by outlining the history of the British School Technology (BST), its terms of reference and the extent of the operation in terms of the numbers of teachers trained. Details are given of inspections carried out and a more detailed description of the work carried out by BST at Trent Polytechnic including…
Design and Technological Activity: a Framework for Assessment
This report, from the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU), follows a series of other reports establishing the nature of design and technology. This report was again concerned initially to clarify the parameters of design and technological activity and the features of performance that are crucial. Subsequently, the work of the team…
Licence to Cook Case Studies: Cooking
These case studies from Licence to Cook provide examples of activities and worksheets developed by lead practitioners to support the teaching and learning of basic cooking skills in the classroom. Making a snack is a homework activity which asks students to analyse and review a snack they have made, explaining the purpose of the…
Licence to Cook Case Studies: Health and Safety
These case studies from Licence to Cook provide examples of activities and worksheets developed by lead practitioners to support the teaching of health and safety in food technology. Safety and equipment is an example of a short worksheet for Year Seven students covering how to use a cooker safely Hygiene and safety is an activity…
Licence to Cook Case Studies: Product Evaluation
These case studies from Licence to Cook provide examples of activities and worksheets developed by lead practitioners to support the teaching of product evaluation in food technology. Word bank for evaluations sheets gives a table of sensory terms which can be used to help students select and use words when writing evaluations…
Teach Food Technology: Mentor Guide
This guide was intended for use by mentors who are supporting teachers being trained as part of the Teach Food Technology programme. The guide prepares them to work with their nominated mentee and plan a mentoring day. The contents of the guide may also be useful for all those involved in mentoring a new food technology teacher.…
Biscuit Bonanza
This Licence to Cook practical session is about baking biscuits, both savoury and sweet. During the session, students will make either Cheese straws or ANZAC biscuits. The session aims to improve students’ knowledge of flour based products and act as a reminder for the safe use of the cooker. It can be used as a stand-alone…
Baker's Haven
This Licence to Cook practical session is about the production of bread based products, with students making either Dinner rolls or Pesto pizza or Finnish fruit plait. There is scope for students to be creative, selecting different types of ingredients that could be combined into the dishes. The writing frames can be used before…
Cooking Session 16: Meal Appeal
This is the final practical session in the Licence to Cook course, and it is expected that students should be confident and competent in preparing and cooking a range of different dishes before this lesson. During this session, students consolidate their understanding by preparing and cooking a main meal, such as a shepherd's…
Cooking Session 15: Stir Fry Crazy
This Licence to Cook practical session aims to build students' confidence and independence in the kitchen, offering the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques which can lead to preparing and cooking a range of main meals. During this session, students can make either a sizzling stir-fry or fajitas. These recipes…
Cooking Session 14: Rice
This Licence to Cook practical session focuses on cooking with rice, revisiting many skills and techniques and allowing students to make dishes at school that they can easily recreate at home. During this session, students can make either a mushroom risotto or savoury rice. These recipes demonstrate the versatility of rice in…
Cooking Session 13: Celebration
This Licence to Cook practical session focuses on using the creaming method to make a simple cake. It provides the opportunity to use a hand-held electric mixer, although students can make this mixture using a wooden spoon. Weighing and measuring are important aspects of this session, as quantities need to be precise in order for…
Cooking Session 12: Curry to Go!
This Licence to Cook practical session is about making a simple curry dish in one pan. It demonstrates the use of simple pieces of equipment in the preparation of a dish that students could easily prepare at home. During this session, students can make a spinach, potato and chickpea curry, lamb korma or Thai green chicken curry.…
Cooking Session 11: Back to Basics
During this Licence to Cook practical session, students can make either a classic tomato ragu or ratatouille. These recipes demonstrate how a simple tomato based sauce can form the basis of many dishes and meals, as well as providing an opportunity to practice essential knife skills. Students will also use the hob to boil or simmer.…
Cooking Session 10: Mini Meals
During this Licence to Cook practical session, students make either koftas, spicy bean burgers or a fish and vegetable stack to demonstrate their skills and understanding of ingredient preparation. It also provides the opportunity for students to use a food processor to prepare ingredients. This session can act as a stand-alone…
Cooking Session 9: Pasta Mania
In this Licence to Cook practical session students make a savoury sauce and combine it with pasta to make a simple dish. Students start to prepare and cook items simultaneously, learning about timing and kitchen organisation. Key skills include weighing and measuring, use of the hob (boiling, simmering), grating, making a roux…
Cooking Session 8: Deli Salads
This Licence to Cook practical session is about creating a deli-style salad using a range of different ingredients. Students are presented with the opportunity to cook a range of starchy foods, whilst simultaneously preparing other ingredients for their salad. The aim of the session is to improve students’ organisational…
Cooking Session 7: Feel the Rub
This Licence to Cook practical session extends the rubbing in technique so that students learn to form and shape the rubbed-in dough. This additional dimension is a progression from Cooking Session 6, Creative Crumbles, as students will need to carefully control the amount of liquid added to the mixture to prevent it from becoming…