Table 7: 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.

Responses from 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?

Yes / 8 teachers

What are the duties/responsibilities of the

science teacher/coordinator?

Coordinator -> planning - organizing overseen the science program - curriculum

and assessments
Teachers -> design - write - update the
curriculum - assessments - reports

Does she teach any, all students or just specific

year groups?

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.
2

Who is responsible for science policy and

provision within the setting?

Yes/ daily plan - weekly plan - yearly plan

Principal - VP - science coordinator

(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)

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)

Yes

Is there a budget for materials?

Edulab

Who trains teachers and staff in the use the

equipment?

Lab assistance

 Who manages the equipment and materials?

5

Is/Are there dedicated science labs in

this setting?

Yes/ all basic science equipments for

primary and secondary

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?

Yes

Does the setting feel it has enough specialist

science teachers, technicians and dedicated
science rooms?
6

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 (consumables- colored paper, glue,
popsicle sticks etc.).

What are the safety rules?

Yes

Are the safety rules posted in the science

setting?

Don't touch animals

Wear safety goggles
Wear lab coat
Wear gloves when necessary
Don't eat at your workstation
Clean up your workspace
Be careful with sharp tools
Wash your hands

Who developed these and are they

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?

Science kits
Books
Lab equipments
Models

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?)

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

1
0

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?

Yes / level the students / differentiation

How do students get feedback so that they can

make improvements?
1
1

They get feedback from the teacher after

every assessment / activity

What science professional development /

training do teachers currently receive or
have recently 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