Funding has been approved for Loreto College, a Teach Manchester Strategic Partner to deliver a Teacher Subject Specialism Training (TSST) course in secondary Physics.
TSST forms part of a five-year commitment to transform STEM teaching in England. It is a government funded initiative for non-specialist qualified teachers who are currently teaching physics or would like to in the future. (non-specialist meaning their degree is not Physics). There is no cost to participants or their schools.
The course is run over 12 twilight sessions from 4 – 6.30pm at Loreto College, Hulme, and is designed to suit participants needs.
We cover knowledge, understanding, concepts and misconceptions in GCSE Physics topics and have taken concepts beyond GCSE level to aid understanding. Practical work, pedagogy and mathematical skills have also been addressed. The course aims to improve teacher confidence in teaching physics, to enable teachers to provide confident responses to pupil questions and to improve pupil interest and enthusiasm for physics.
We have run the course for the last 3 years and have had a great response from those attending. All initial participants have completed the course and the attendance has been excellent.
Several schools have encouraged their NQT science teachers, who are not Physics specialists to attend.
The course is accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP). Three tutors, with many years’ experience of teaching physics, are sharing the delivery of the sessions and comments so far include:
- “The course covered a good range of relevant topics. Topics were delivered professionally and inclusively. Sessions included excellent demonstrations, whole group discussions, teaching strategies, pedagogy, resources, and content explanation. Sessions were highly engaging and interesting”.
- “The session was brilliant – great CPD”
- “Another excellent session that really stretched us”
- “My HOD is a physicist and he has never come across this way of presenting this topic – he was really impressed!”
- “Extremely useful session with some really good ideas”
- “My knowledge, understanding and confidence have been significantly improved”
Teachers are finding the new specification for the higher level GCSE is stretching their understanding of the concepts and are very grateful for the additional help in these areas the course provides.
June Mason, the Course Leader can be contacted via jmanson@loreto.ac.uk with any queries relating to course content or suitability.
Autumn Term Dates:
- 1st October – Linear motion
- 15th October – Newton’s Laws, pressure, density
- 29th October – Vectors and components, work, energy and power.
- 26th November – Momentum, moments and stability
- 10th December – Static and Current Electricity
Spring Term Dates:
- 7th January
- 4th February
- 10th March
- 24th March
Summer term dates are to be confirmed.
Applications for this programme are being taken online here, or please contact Rachel Eppy rachel.eppy@teachmanchester.com or 0161 226 1773.
