For the third year running science teachers from all over the region came to Stewards School to attend the ASE Science and CPD Conference.  The main theme of the conference was ‘Informal Learning’,  learning that goes on all around us in everyday life as well as those planned for a lesson. They looked at using local resources provided by organisations such as the Essex Wildlife Trust, the RSPCA, Science Alive and Anglia Water who provided excellent workshops. Sponsorship, to keep the costs down for the delegates, was provided by the Science Learning  Centre East of England who were heavily involved in the conference providing a stand in the exhibition and workshops for primary and secondary school teachers and technicians. Science technicians were well provided for with their own strand of workshops on Health and Safety, Olympic Science and how to support practical work in the classroom.  The exhibition was an important feature of the conference containing both national and local exhibitors such as Essex Wildlife Trust, King Harold School showing their STEM club work and Royal Horticultural Society.

And some quotes from delegates:

Run this conference again.

New exciting investigations to have a go at.

Plan some Olympic linked/cross curricular activities for next year.

Very good, appropriate and useful

Keep organising these events

Excellent/enthusiastic/good presentations

Further opportunities for STEM projects

More networking/conferences/opportunities for students to present

A good balance of topics

Really inspiring

Best year so far