“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
- Marie Curie
Chemistry provides the central link between the physical and biological worlds, helping us to understand the composition, properties, and transformations of matter. Through subject-specific training sessions, you will develop secure knowledge of key chemical concepts - such as atomic structure, bonding, energetics, and reaction rates - while refining the practical and analytical skills essential to high-quality science teaching. You will also explore how to engage pupils’ curiosity about the material world, enabling them to see chemistry as an experimental and creative discipline that explains how substances interact and change in everyday life.
All secondary chemistry trainees receive specialist subject training within their placement schools, supported by a dedicated and highly experienced subject leader. Explicit links are made across teaching phases from KS3 to KS5, as well as KS2 so that transition is considered, ensuring the content goes beyond the KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum to promote a deep understanding of chemical principles and processes, and pupil progress through all key stages.
Chemistry trainees will join our cohorts from biology and physics throughout the year. This collaborative approach reflects the interconnected nature of the sciences and ensures that you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to teach across the full science curriculum, and feel prepared for the realities of teaching science today and in the future.
To quote Albert Einstein, arguably the greatest scientist of all time, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”. What a prescient thought to bear in mind as you embark on the exciting journey to attain Qualified Teacher Status.
My name is Andrew Williams and I will have the pleasure of being your Science Subject Lead, with responsibility for ensuring that you receive the best possible subject-related input during what I know will be a most stimulating and rewarding year. Towards this end, our sessions are designed to be as practical and supportive as possible, providing you with ample opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills you will need to become expert teachers who are fully equipped to inspire the next generation of young scientists.
With respect to my own background, as a successful Science and Maths teacher with 35 years’ experience, I have taught Science and Mathematics to A-level as well as taking on a variety of other roles within schools, including Head of Department, Lead Teacher and ITT Coordinator, alongside a range of senior leadership positions. From a wider perspective, I have also acted as a GCSE examination team leader and Science Teacher Leader for the STEM National Science Learning Network.
However, as an ecologist, I would say that my natural habitat is definitely in the classroom, and I have always found teaching young people to be the most rewarding aspect of my career in education. In addition, as a passionate scientist, I firmly believe that the subject lies at the heart of the curriculum. Not only is science a fascinating subject in its own right, awakening our sense of wonder by deepening our understanding and appreciation of the amazing world we live in, it also provides a means of developing essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Science also drives the technological advancements that form the bedrock of human progress and, to end with another quote, this time by renowned physicist Edward Teller, “The science of today is the technology of tomorrow”.