CK CHUGD presentation nov 11

Geology Teacher Training Name of presentation CHUGD meeting update Earth Science Education Unit 14th November 2011 Earth Science Education Unit www.earthscienceeducation.co m A teacher with a geology degree: • has a geoscience degree (with a minimum of 40% geology) • has a PGCE (one-year teaching certificate) – the PGCE may be in science/geology teaching – or in science teaching or in geography teaching (from institutions where a geology degree is recognised) • has not trained in Scotland (since a geology degree is not recognised for science or geography teaching in Scotland) A teacher with a geology degree: Last year (2010/11): • 26 people with geology degrees trained to become secondary science teachers in England and Wales • of these, six trained to become science teachers with a geology specialism (at Keele or Bath Universities – more details below) • an unknown number trained to become geography teachers • an unknown number trained to become primary teachers Geology teacher demand England, Wales, N Ireland - A-level • A-level entry was falling, but has been steadily rising recently England, Wales, N Ireland - A-level • as a percentage of all A-levels – more uneven England, Wales, N Ireland - A-level • Rises in ‘comprehensive’ last year = academies England, Wales, N Ireland - AS-level • New AS-level looked promising – it then fell – but a recent continuing rise; 2011 = an artefact England, Wales, N Ireland - GCSE Geology • The new GCSE in Geology has just come on stream – with interest rising AS- A- GCSE level figures • 2011 A2-level Geology – 1900 • 2011 AS-level Geology – 3148 (an artefact – but still looking good) • 2011 GCSE Geology – 1112 • A and AS-level - two Awarding Bodies (Exam Boards – OCR, WJEC) • 2011 – OCR = 107 centres; WJEC = 92 centres; a total of 199 centres • GCSE Geology - one Awarding Body (WJEC) • 2011 – 66 centres (including 24 new ones) PGCE geology teacher training Keele University, this year: • The CPD in geology teacher training idea is important because the course not only could be offered to Keele students, but also to: – PGCE science students in other ITT institutions – PGCE geography students in other institutions – in-service science and geography teachers with geology degrees – in-service and training science and geography teachers in Scotland – international students – other educators interested in geology teaching (eg adult education, museum education or outdoor education) – undergraduate Geoscience students interested in teaching Geology teaching - the future Geology teaching – the future The likely future scenario is: • People with geology degrees will continue to be trained as teachers in England and Wales • The only institution where teachers will be trained with a geology specialism is Keele University – where the current allocation is six places Geology teaching – the future • Keele is seeking to become a ‘Centre for Geoscience Education’, involving the following: – the current Earth Science Education Unit activities (the ESEU has provided CPD to more than 23,000 teachers and trainee teachers in the past 12 years across the UK, impacting on at least 4.5 million pupils) – the continued training of science teachers with a geology specialism (but no longer on a ‘no cost’ basis) – CPD summer schools available to practicing science and geography teachers with geoscience degrees, geoscience undergraduates, Scottish and international students Geology teaching – the future • Keele is seeking to become a ‘Centre for Geoscience Education’, involving the following: – funding at the current ESEU levels (from Oil and Gas UK and other funders) – CPD course bursaries from industry – a steering committee of stakeholders – an advisory committee of interested parties – … with long term stability Geology teaching – the future Maintaining PGCE geology teacher training at Keele: • To maintain the current PGCE training in secondary science with a geology specialism (currently six places allocated), Keele must fill these places • It would be even better if the places were filled – and more were requested • Please publicise teaching as a career route to your undergraduate students – using the following flyer: Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future Keele course Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future Geology teaching – the future A conclusion • We can only preserve and develop geology teaching in schools if we work together • This is vital for: – – – – – – pupils schools Higher Education industry the country … and the planet Geology Teacher Training Name of presentation CHUGD meeting update Earth Science Education Unit 14th November 2011 Earth Science Education Unit www.earthscienceeducation.co m [...]... F 611 Industrial geology F620 Mining geology F630 Geotechnology F631 Marine geotechnology F640 Earth science F641 Palaeontology F642 Geoscience F650 Geological oceanography F660 Geophysics Undergraduate geology recruitment - 2010 F6** Geology • • • • Total applicants = 3699 (1214 accepted) Applicants with A-level Geology = 111 5 Applicants with Scottish Higher = 33 Applicants with A-level + Higher = 114 8... Higher Geology = 31% Figures kindly provided by UCAS Geology in the National Science Curriculum for England Key stage 3: 11 – 14 year olds – 14 statements of content – one is - geological activity is caused by chemical and physical processes (this includes rock cycle processes, rock formation and weathering) – 1/14 = 7% Key stage 4: 14 – 16 year olds – 16 statements of content – one is - the surface... (2010 /11) : – trained the four trainees using the ‘no cost’ option (one dropped out) – this involved the trainees observing the teaching of a geology module to students on a pre-PGCE ‘Subject Knowledge Enhancement’ (SKE) course – addressing different learning outcomes from the SKE students – discussing the teaching afterwards – with good student feedback • Keele was planning to do the same this year (2 011/ 12)... University • Average no of geology teachers trained nationally since 2003 = 10.1 pa PGCE geology teacher training Bath University, last year (2010 /11) : • trained only two specialist geology students • decided earlier not to continue the course • closed recruitment for 2 011/ 12 onward PGCE geology teacher training Keele University, year before last (2009/10): • decided in March, since recruitment was low, to... geology teacher training Keele University, this year (2 011/ 12): • the geology course was closed • the TDA was lobbied suggesting that, through the cuts imposed, an ‘unintended consequence’ would be that geology teacher training would be discontinued in this country • TDA allocated an additional six geology teacher training places to Keele for 2 011/ 12 • … and indicated that they would keep small subjects... reopened PGCE geology teacher training Keele University, this year (2 011/ 12): • When the Keele geology course was closed, the two students who had been recruited were advised to transfer to the two year SKE chemistry/physics course instead – which they did • When the course was re-opened they were given the option to transfer back to the PGCE geology course – but decided not to • Four further PGCE... Earth’s origin and are changing at present – 1/14 = 6% School-level geology in Scotland • For a number of years geoscience graduates haven’t been able to train as teachers in Scotland • Last year (2010 /11) - geology: – 64 Scottish Higher entries – 60 Scottish Intermediate 1 entries – 21 Scottish Intermediate 2 entries • The Scottish Qualifications Agency plans to close Scottish geology qualifications... feedback • Keele was planning to do the same this year (2 011/ 12) – providing there was progress towards a CPD course PGCE geology teacher training PGCE geology teacher training Keele University, this year (2 011/ 12): • was planning to recruit geologists to be taught alongside the SKE students • received 19% cuts in science PGCE figures (from 70 to 57) • within these cuts, the numbers of chemistry and physics... (not meeting the allocation of 6 TDA places) Geology teacher supply Keele University is the only institution that is likely to train geology teachers in the future Keele was allocated six places for 2 011/ 12 – with the promise of a similar or increased future allocation The current Keele training model is only viable if: – a lecturer with expertise in geology teacher training remains at Keele – SKE courses