An interview with a Primary School science coordinator

Sample interview questions for the

Principal and/or science
coordinator/teacher re: science
provision in the setting.
Is there a science coordinator and/or
how many specified science teachers
are there in the school?

What are the duties/responsibilities of

the science teacher/coordinator?

Does she teach any, all students or just

specific year groups?

Responses from the Principal

and/or science
coordinator/teacher re: science
provision in the setting.
Yes / 8 teachers
Coordinator - planning - organizing overseen the science program curriculum and assessments
Teachers - design - write - update
the curriculum - assessments reports
Teach all students of the year group

Obtain a teaching schedule and any

schemes of work, lesson plans,
software used etc. from the science
coordinator/teacher.

Yes/ daily plan - weekly plan - yearly

plan

Who is responsible for science policy

and provision within the setting?
(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)

Principal - VP - science coordinator

Online/Blended Learning:

Does the setting have its own website?

If so, what is the URL, who created it
and who is responsible for managing
and updating it?
Is there any online/blended learning
taking place related to science? If so,
how is this delivered?

What ICT resources are used specifically

for teaching science?

Yes /
http://www.gemswestminsterschoolrak.com/

Yes/ We use education city as a tool

of science learning in uploading the
science materials for the students
Youtube - google - Education city bitesize - TES

What science
equipment/manipulatives/resources
can be found the setting? (Is there a
list? Differentiate between the classroom;
the science lab and other areas in the
setting e.g. library)

Is there a budget for materials?

Yes
Edulab
Lab assistance

Who trains teachers and staff in the use

the equipment?
Who manages the equipment and
materials?
5

Is/Are there dedicated science labs in

this setting?
If yes, how is it used and by whom? How
is it organised? What equipment can be
found here?

If no, why not? e.g. lack of funds? No

need? Enough science equipment and
expertise in each classroom?

Does the setting feel it has enough

specialist science teachers, technicians
and dedicated science rooms?
Which science resources does the
setting feel it needs or would like to
have to achieve its vision or better
science teaching and learning?
e.g. Science Kits, books, wifi,
manipulatives/models, digital
cameras/camcorders, lab equipment
OR soft materials (consumablescolored paper, glue, popsicle sticks
etc.).
What are the safety rules?
Are the safety rules posted in the
science setting?
Who developed these and are they

Yes/ all basic science equipments for

primary and secondary

Yes

Science kits
Books
Lab equipments
Models

Yes
Don't touch animals
Wear safety goggles
Wear lab coat
Wear gloves when necessary

mandatory/enforced?

What safety equipment is available

and when is it used commonly?

Is safety equipment available for all

students in the classrooms?

Is equipment cleaned, if so by whom?

Who manages this duty?
Planning for learning- how are the
science lessons planned for in the
setting?
Does the MOE/Zone/KHDA provide unit
plans/lesson plans? (can we obtain a
copy of this?)

1
0

Fume cupboard
Safety room for chemicals
Eye washer
Coat / Gloves / Glass
Lab assistant

Moe - term plan - yearly plan lesson plan

Yes/ planning for the week lesson

Are there weekly planning meetings?

What is usually done in the planning
meetings?

Teachers with coordinator

Who attends the planning meetings?

Yes

Does the school have specific goals

related to science (TIMMS scores etc.)?
How is learning assessed in the
science classroom?

By activities - projects - experiments

- digital

Is there an assessment plan for the

semester? What does it include?

Yes / peer assessment / formative /

summative

Do teachers collect student data? What

data, when, and what is it used for?
How do students get feedback so that
they can make improvements?
1
1

Don't eat at your workstation

Clean up your workspace
Be careful with sharp tools
Wash your hands

What science professional

development / training do teachers
currently receive or have recently

Yes / level the students /

differentiation
They get feedback from the teacher
after every assessment / activity

had?
How frequently and from whom did they
/are they receiving this?

Do they have a document that outlines

this PD?
What PD do they think teachers in the
setting still need?

Yes / Gems PD
Classroom teaching and learning