Chief schools inspector calls for new approach to science curriculum

The government's chief schools inspector has called for a change in the way the science curriculum is designed in order to drive higher educational standards.

During a talk at the Association for Science Education Annual Conference at the University of Liverpool, Amanda Spielman said recent research has indicated that not enough attention is being paid to the science curriculum at present, with schools often focusing on English and maths at the expense of science.

Concerns were also raised about the fact that many schools only allow students to take science GCSEs if they achieve certain results, which places too much of a focus on grades and not enough on the individual aspirations of pupils.

Ms Spielman said: "Too few pupils, especially the more disadvantaged ones, are sufficiently challenged and too many have their education and career options unnecessarily limited. Making sure there is a challenging science curriculum for all pupils, with clear pathways into a career, further or higher education, should be a priority for all secondary schools."

As such, the chief inspector has called upon schools to do more to ensure their approach to science teaching does more to help students to develop a scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science, as well as the uses and implications of these theories.

This means moving away from an approach in which practical science experiments are mainly conducted purely as a means of motivating students and allowing them to have fun, instead focusing on how these tasks can improve pupils' knowledge and ability to create and test hypotheses.

Ms Spielman stated that Ofsted will continue to invest in sector research to provide schools with accurate insights into how this can be achieved, rather than imposing curriculum guidelines in a direct, top-down manner.

List #1

Related jobs

Core Subject Tutor

Salary

£25 - 30 per hour

Location free text

Bradford

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Bradford

Description

Core Subjects Tutor - Bradford (BD1) Location: Bradford, BD1 Pay Rate: £25 - £30 per hour ⏰ Hours: Part-Time, Monday to Friday, during school hoursInspire Learning. Change Lives. TP Tutors is loo

Reference

30/10-Core-BD1

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

North Tuition

Author

North Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Fully Qualified Tutor

Salary

£25 - 30 per hour

Location free text

Wigan

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Wigan

Description

Fully Qualified Tutor - Wigan (WN1) Job Title: Fully Qualified Tutor Location: Wigan, WN1 Hours: Flexible, Part-Time (During School Hours) Pay: Competitive hourly rateAbout the Role: We are seeking

Reference

30/10FQT-WN1

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

North Tuition

Author

North Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Core Subject Tutor

Salary

£25 - 30 per hour

Location free text

Merseyside

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Merseyside

Description

Core Subject Tutor - L1 8JQ - Merseyside Job Title: Core Subject Tutor Location: L1 8JQ, Merseyside Hours: Flexible, Part-Time (During School Hours) Pay: Competitive hourly rateAbout the Role: We a

Reference

30/10CoreSub-L1

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

North Tuition

Author

North Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Tutor

Salary

£20 - 29 per hour

Location free text

Wellingborough

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Northamptonshire

Description

1:1 Tutor – Wellingborough Flexible / Part-time Opportunities AvailableLocation: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire Setting: Pupil’s home or school Hours: School hours, Monday–Friday Contract: Flexible

Reference

S539/Wellingborough

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Central Tuition

Author

Central Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Sen Tutor

Salary

£20 - 29 per hour

Location free text

Kettering

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Northamptonshire

Description

SEN 1:1 Tutors Required – Primary & Secondary | Kettering Location: Kettering and surrounding areas Working Setting: Pupils' homes and school settings Position: 1:1 Special Educational Needs (SEN) Tu

Reference

S537/Kettering

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Central Tuition

Author

Central Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Sen Tutor

Salary

£20 - 29 per hour

Location free text

Northampton

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

£20 - £29 per hour

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Northampton

Description

SEN 1:1 Tutors Required – Primary & Secondary | Northampton Location: Northampton and surrounding areas Working Setting: Pupils' homes and school settings Position: 1:1 Special Educational Needs (SEN

Reference

S536/Northampton

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Central Tuition

Author

Central Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Paid Teacher Training Programme

Salary

£23k - 27k per year

Location free text

Weymouth

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£20,000 - £29,999

£100 - £199 per day

Sector

Secondary

Location

Weymouth

Description

Salaried Teacher Training Programme – Secondary Schools Weymouth | £23,000–£27,000 salary | January 2027 startTeaching Personnel are currently working with secondary schools in Weymouth to recruit gr

Reference

WEYFT019

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

More Info Shortlist

Salaried Teacher Training Programme

Salary

£23k - 27k per year

Location free text

Liverpool

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£20,000 - £29,999

£100 - £199 per day

Sector

Secondary

Location

Liverpool

Description

Salaried Teacher Training Programme – Secondary Schools Liverpool | £23,000–£27,000 salary | Immediate & January 2027 starts availableWant to Become a Teacher? If teaching is something you've been

Reference

2LICVFT

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

More Info Shortlist

Maths Teacher

Salary

£150 - 260 per day

Location free text

Bath

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£100 - £199 per day

£200 - £299 per day

Sector

Maths

Location

Bath

Description

Reference

mths-ba2-GL

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Bristol Secondary

Author

Bristol Secondary

More Info Shortlist

Graduate Teacher Training Programme

Salary

£23k - 27k per year

Location free text

Bournemouth

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£20,000 - £29,999

£100 - £199 per day

Sector

Secondary

Location

Bournemouth

Description

Start Your Teaching Career in Bournemouth! Position: Graduate Teacher Training Location: Bournemouth Start Date: January 2027 Salary: £23,000–£27,000 per annum Type: Full TimeAbout the Opportunity A

Reference

BMTH2027WE

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

Author

Dorset & Hants Secondary

More Info Shortlist

List #1

Black History Month: Classroom Resources and Ideas for Schools

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD10YY

Summary

October marks Black History Month in the UK, giving schools an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, contributions and experiences of Black communities while encouraging meaningful conversati

Teaser

Adam Davies

ADHD Awareness Month: Ellen's Journey to a Late ADHD Diagnosis

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD10YY

Summary

As ADHD Awareness Month shines a spotlight on neurodiversity, Teaching Personnel's Ellen shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and how greater awareness and understandi

Teaser

Teaching Personnel's Ellen shares her experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, the challenges she faced, and why awareness and understanding matter.

Adam Davies

National Teaching Assistants' Day 2026: Meet Our Winners

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD09YY

Summary

As we celebrate National Teaching Assistants' Day 2026, we're delighted to recognise the incredible individuals who have been selected as our Teaching Assistant of the Year winners.This year,

Teaser

Following a record-breaking response to our NTAD awards, we're proud to reveal our Teaching Assistant of the Year 2026 winners and celebrate the incredible difference they make every day.

Welcome Back: Starting the New School Year with Confidence

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD09YY

Summary

After a well-earned summer break, schools across the UK are opening their doors once again for a new academic year. Whether you're returning to a familiar classroom or starting a new role, Septemb

Teaser

What do the September 2026 supply staff changes mean for teachers and support staff?

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD08YY

Summary

As schools and trusts prepare for changes to the way temporary staff are sourced from September 2026, many will look to work more closely with framework-approved recruitment partners. Understandin

Teaser

Adam Davies

Five things educators can do now to get ready for September

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD07YY

Summary

Summer has only just started, and September might seem a long way off, but it will be here sooner than you think. Schools and trusts are already planning for September, with new opportunities open

Teaser

Adam Davies

What the DfE Framework Means for Schools

Teaser

Education News

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD06YY

Summary

As schools and trusts prepare for September 2026, the shift from CCS (Crown Commercial Service) to the new GCA (Government Commercial Agency) framework marks a significant change in how supply sta

Teaser

Why summer is the perfect time to work in early years and nursery settings

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD06YY

Summary

When schools wind down for the holidays, nurseries keep open. Many early-years settings remain open throughout the summer. Nurseries rely on skilled, caring staff to help children and

Teaser

Adam Davies

Exam season: A guide for teaching assistants and support staff

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD05YY

Summary

Exams are one of the most stressful times in the academic year, and it isn’t only pupils who feel the pressure. For teaching assistants (TAs) and support staff, exam season brings new expectations

Teaser

Adam Davies

Looking for a permanent teaching role?

Teaser

Educators

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD05YY

Summary

If you’re considering taking the next step in education, you’re not alone. More teachers and support staff are exploring permanent roles that offer stability, progression, and a sense of belonging

Teaser

Adam Davies

Chief schools inspector calls for new approach to science curriculum

Register with usfor a choice of classroom roles

Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles