Sally Spicer, Senior Teaching Fellow, from the primary team of the Centre for Teacher Education, attended the Institute of Physics to receive an award 7 November 2019

Chartered Science Teacher is a chartered mark recognising excellence in science teaching and learning. Gaining professional registration as a Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) requires a successful application demonstrating impact of teaching and learning in science and meeting the required competence standards. Criteria for application include a minimum of four years’ experience of teaching science following QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and a Masters level qualification in education, or being able to demonstrate equivalence through experience.

The register of Chartered Science Teachers is a special section of the Science Council’s register of Chartered Scientists (CSci) which underpins the quality and equivalence of the awards. Only bodies licensed by the Science Council are empowered to award Chartered status and include the Association for Science Education (ASE), Royal Society of Biology, Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics. CSciTeach demonstrates commitment to the teaching profession.

Sally Spicer was first awarded Chartered Science Teacher status in 2010.

To remain on the professional register an annual submission of CPD, demonstrating continued impact of science teaching and learning has to be made available for scrutiny by the licensed awarding body and a percentage are requested. Sally’s submission was requested for 2018 and once scrutinised in early 2019 this was then nominated for the national CPD awards. Successfully receiving a highly commended from the Science Council awarding bodies panel resulted in an invitation to attend the CPD Awards 2019, held at the Institute of Physics, London, 7thNovember, 2019.

The ceremony included opportunity to network with the winners and other commended individuals from each of the four professional categories, a total of about 12. The presentation was made by Helen Gordon, CEO of the Science Council.