** A message to all SPN Partner Schools from David Cameron, SPN Project Manager ** Dear colleagues As the new

school year gets into full swing, I would like to take a moment to thank you once again for your continuing support of the Stimulating Physics Network, to pass on some news about the project, and to ask you two things. The status of SPN Partner School is not insignificant and represents a commitment by your school, expressed in the signature of your Head Teacher or Principal on a Memorandum of Understanding, to work with the Stimulating Physics Network to develop your pupils experience of physics. It really is a partnership, in that we couldnt achieve anything without the support of you and your colleagues so, thank you. There is actually an SPN Partner School logo that your school can use on letterheads and websites; if youre interested, you can download it here to pass on to the relevant colleagues in your school. It seems that schools are constantly subjected to change but there can rarely have been such a tumultuous period. Reforms are occurring across the spectrum, from the introduction (and then delay) of major reforms to the science curriculum and exam systems, to changes in inspection criteria, school governance, teacher training, pay and pensions the list goes on. Here in the Institute of Physics Education department, we do appreciate that our colleagues on the frontline are handling competing priorities, and we are doing everything we can to support teachers in these pressurised times. I do believe that the Stimulating Physics Network can make a positive contribution to this support. Our model of sustained, bespoke CPD for teachers has been shown to be most effective in developing the performance of pupils, teachers, departments and schools. One teacher in an SPN Partner School recently told us, I was recently observed by OFSTED and by using what you've shown me, they judged my lesson to be outstanding. Therefore, I encourage you if you havent already to make contact with your Teaching and Learning Coach (TLC) and work with them to develop a coherent and long-term programme of CPD and support for your staff, based on the particular needs and context of your department. This leads me to my first request. As a project funded by the DfE, we have regular meetings with the Standards in Science Division at Sanctuary Buildings in London. At the most recent meeting we were asked if the project would be able to feed back any intelligence from schools and teachers about recent policy and reforms for example the proposed changes to science A-levels. So, at risk of opening myself to a deluge, please let me know if you have any comments relating to education policy in science which you would like us to pass on to the DfE. On a personal level I am tremendously proud of the work that the Stimulating Physics Network is doing and the impact it is having in schools across England. This is down to the hard work and commitment of the 35 TLCs, all those who support their work, and the teachers we work with. I wont spend time here talking about the data which shows the evidence of impact, or the various features of the project, such as the Ever Wondered Why pupil show, the Exoplanet Physics Project or the recent and very successful Summer Schools all this will be covered in the forthcoming project newsletter, and you can find out more from your TLC or on our website. I would like to say a word

about the Stimulating Physics Support (SPS) mentoring programme, which you may not be aware of if you have any trainee or NQT physics teachers in your school, they may be able to access an additional layer of personalised support from a dedicated SPS Mentor. More details can be found at www.iop.org/sps. My current priority is to secure the continuation of the project into the future. SPN is currently funded until the end of March 2014, and we are in the process of talking to the DfE about a new contract to ensure all the projects activities dont come to an end at that time. In these straitened times this is no small challenge, and we are looking for all the ammunition we can use to support our case which brings me to my second request. If you have any comments, testimonials or evidence of impact about SPN, and if you can spare a few minutes, please send them to me. It would be greatly appreciated and a powerful addition to the conversations that we will be having with the DfE over the coming weeks and months. Many thanks again for your continuing support; if you have any comments, questions or issues about SPN, please dont hesitate to get in touch. All best wishes for the year David David Cameron Project Manager STIMULATING PHYSICS NETWORK The Institute of Physics 76 Portland Place London W1B 1NT t: 020 7470 4899 m: 07917 384 699 Twitter: @David_Cameron76

www.stimulatingphysics.org Twitter: @TakeOnPhysics